The United States launched its third military response this week, striking more than 130 suspected sites. President Donald Trump called the assaults "very hard" on Tehran, ABC noted. The White House confirmed the strikes followed the latest regional escalation.
Tehran’s response came quickly almost immediately. Iranian forces launched missile and drone strikes on multiple Arab states, including Jordan and key Gulf partners. Regional analysts reported a sharp rise in military posturing near critical shipping lanes as tensions soared. The Australian flagged rising concerns over the sudden flare-up in cross-border violence.