US-Iran conflict heats up once again
Image: Razieh Poudat
The US-Iran conflict is escalating again, nearly two weeks after the collapse of their recent ceasefire amid tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
The cycle of attacks and retaliatory strikes continued over the weekend, resulting in the deaths of at least three US servicemembers in Jordan and Iraq.
How we got here
Earlier this month, Iran announced it would begin restricting commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. After Iran was accused of attacking ships in the waterway, the US responded with strikes on dozens of targets in Iran, and the ceasefire later collapsed.
- As tensions rose, Iranian forces launched four attacks in less than a week, including a series of drones and missiles aimed at US forces in Jordan.
- The US responded with multiple rounds of retaliatory strikes targeting Iranian missile sites, command facilities, bridges and other military infrastructure while deploying additional fighter jets and aerial refueling aircraft to the region.
Things escalated further on Friday, when Iran killed two US servicemembers and left another missing in its deadliest attack since the ceasefire. The attack targeted Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, which had already been hit just two days earlier in a strike that wounded ~20 troops.
- Another servicemember died Saturday in Iraq during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone, per US Central Command.
- The US launched another round of strikes over the weekend in response, with President Trump signaling the campaign could expand to additional Iranian infrastructure.
Jordan comes into focus
US forces on the receiving end of attacks in the Middle East have historically been located in Iraq and Syria. But Iranian airstrikes are increasingly targeting US troops stationed in Jordan, as more American aircraft, personnel, and logistics operations shift into the country amid increasingly limited regional options.
Several Middle Eastern partners have restricted how the US can use bases or airspace within their borders for offensive operations, making Jordan one of Washington's most dependable hubs for projecting military power—and a more attractive target for Iranian missiles.
Looking ahead…President Trump has signaled the ongoing US military campaign could soon expand to Iranian bridges, power plants, and electrical systems, while Iran has similarly warned of broader attacks if US strikes continue.
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Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that the continued back-and-forth strikes between the US and Iran show how military escalation can become a cycle that’s difficult to break. Instead, it seems more likely that lasting stability would come through diplomacy rather than another round of fighting.
- Others contend that America’s long record of overseas wars shows that military power alone can’t solve complex conflicts and more intervention in Iran will risk a familiar cycle of high costs and disappointing results.
- “This Is a Forever War in the Making” –Ali Vaez, NY Times
- “Big Idiot Trump and His Disastrous Loser of a War Against Iran” –Tom Engelhardt, Common Dreams
- “Why Iran is returning to war” –Vali Nasr, Financial Times
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that Iran has made it clear that they can’t be trusted to keep the Strait of Hormuz open voluntarily, and that the US should instead use decisive military force to protect international shipping and prevent any country from controlling one of the world’s most important waterways.
- Others contend that the quickest path to peace is showing Iran that the US won’t back down. Instead, we should be projecting military strength and making America's red lines unmistakably clear so that Iran chooses diplomacy over continued escalation.
- “Time to win the Battle of Hormuz — and enforce freedom of navigation” –NY Post Editorial Board
- “Trump hates war but loves winning. Iran is about to discover why that matters” –Rep. Ryan Zinke, Washington Examiner
- “Trump pushed the reset button. This is ‘Iran Fiasco 2.0.’” –David Ignatius, Washington Post
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