US Central Command confirmed that the latest aerial campaign aims to dismantle Iranian capabilities to threaten the strategic waterway, which facilitates the transit of nearly 20% of global oil and gas supplies. President Donald Trump addressed the escalation from Air Force One, describing the strikes as a direct response to the combat losses. The military identified the site of the recent fatal attack as a location in Jordan, with reports pointing to the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, a key hub for US operations in the region.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps claimed responsibility for retaliatory ballistic missile launches, targeting US assets in Jordan, Kuwait, and Syria. These exchanges mark a violent departure from the temporary truce established just last month. While Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei acknowledged that back-channel diplomatic discussions via mediators remain active, the casualty toll continues to climb. Official records now list 17 US military fatalities since February 28, while Iranian sources claim 50 deaths and over 500 injuries within their own borders.