New Delhi: The ongoing conflict between the US and Iran continues to escalate, seemingly engulfing the entire Middle East. The US has been consistently targeting Iranian military installations. Meanwhile, Iran is launching retaliatory strikes, causing the situation to deteriorate further.
US Central Command reported that strikes were carried out for the seventh consecutive night, targeting military logistics and underground arms storage facilities. Several US troops have also been injured in Iranian retaliatory attacks. US officials informed CBS News that at least two military sites in Jordan were targeted this week.
Several US soldiers were injured in these incidents; details regarding the injured troops have not yet been released. On Friday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) claimed to have launched fresh attacks on US military bases across the Middle East, specifically citing locations in Syria, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Jordan.
Conflict Between the Two Nations Persists
US fighter jets, drones, and support forces are deployed in the region. For some time, these locations have served as hubs for potential US operations against Iran. A small outpost named “Tower 22” is located in northeastern Jordan, near the Syrian border. Additionally, US troops are stationed at the Prince Hassan Air Base, King Faisal Air Base, and various other training and border posts.
According to reports, approximately 3,000 to 4,000 US troops are deployed in Jordan. Iran claims to have attacked bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan using ballistic missiles and drones, targeting fighter jets, command centres, and drone hangars. US troops have sustained injuries in these attacks.
Iran’s Claim
Iran has claimed that it targeted US military bases located at Camp Al-Udayri and Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, and Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain.
According to Iran, these attacks targeted ammunition depots, aircraft shelters, fuel storage facilities, headquarters buildings, and strategic bridges. The IRGC separately claimed that Iranian ballistic missiles targeted US fighter jets stationed at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.
No expectation of agreement between the two nations
It is worth noting that the likelihood of finding a middle ground for peace between the US and Iran appears virtually non-existent. Iran has once again announced plans to completely close the Strait of Hormuz. The US, however, does not want this route to be shut down, as it serves as a major global trade corridor; the vast majority of the world’s imports and exports pass through this passage. Meanwhile, crude oil prices have begun to rise in the global market. If this upward trend continues, it could lead to a rise in inflation.
