The U.S. military completed a military operation against Iranian targets on September 1, striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities across Iran in response to Tehran’s attempts to lay sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on American troops deployed to the region. U.S. Central Command announced the strikes began at noon Eastern Time and lasted more than six hours, targeting air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets, and mine-laying capabilities.
The strikes marked a resumption of hostilities after roughly a month of relative calm between the two sides. Iran responded swiftly, launching ballistic missiles toward Jordan and drones toward Bahrain and Kuwait, claiming to target U.S. military assets in what Tehran called a “crushing” retaliation despite warnings from President Donald Trump that Iran would face “much harder” strikes if it retaliated.
The strikes hit multiple Iranian locations along the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, including the port cities of Chabahar and Konarak, areas around Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, and the Jiroft Airport in southeastern Iran. According to Iranian state media, at least 18 people were killed and 108 others wounded in the U.S. attacks, with four deaths occurring when shrapnel from a strike fell on a house hosting a wedding celebration in the coastal village of Kuhestak.
Iranian Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi reported that among those killed were children, with at least 19 of the wounded under age 10. Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the strikes a “brutal war crime,” while U.S. Central Command denied targeting civilians, stating that the U.S. military “never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC.”
The latest round of tit-for-tat strikes occurred as the U.S. and Iran remain locked in a protracted struggle over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. The conflict began on February 28, 2026, when Israel and the United States launched coordinated military operations against Iran. Since then, the two sides have repeatedly clashed over the strait, with Iran attempting to use mines and attacks on shipping to assert control while the U.S. seeks to keep the waterway open for international commerce.
Trump stated that the U.S. gave Gulf allies advance notice before the strikes and characterized the military operation as targeting Iranian radar capabilities that Tehran had attempted to rebuild. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters that the administration is pursuing economic pressure alongside military action, saying the U.S. would “economically asphyxiate this regime” and that additional sanctions on banks with alleged ties to Iran would likely follow in coming weeks.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said it remained engaged with both Tehran and Washington and was “not discouraged” by the spike in violence, insisting the strikes should not be viewed as a failure of diplomatic mediation efforts. The United Nations Secretary-General expressed grave concern over the exchange of fire and civilian casualties, with his spokesperson noting alarm at reports of the strike that hit the wedding ceremony.
Sources
- CNN — reported U.S. strikes on September 1, Iranian retaliation, civilian casualties at wedding, Trump’s warnings, and Treasury Secretary Bessent’s economic strategy
- Associated Press — confirmed U.S. military strikes on Iranian IRGC targets and Iranian counter-attacks on regional allies
- U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) — official announcement of strikes, targets hit, and denial of civilian targeting
- Wikipedia — background on the 2026 Iran war beginning February 28 and the Strait of Hormuz crisis
