US launches fresh air strikes on Iran after Trump warning

The United States military has launched a new round of air strikes on Iran, following President Donald Trump’s warning that American forces would respond forcefully after recent exchanges between the two countries.

US Central Command said the latest operation began at 5:15 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday. CENTCOM said the strikes were carried out against multiple targets in Iran on the direction of the commander-in-chief.

According to CENTCOM, the action was taken as part of additional self-defence strikes and followed what it described as Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression”.

The latest strikes came one day after the United States also targeted Iran on Tuesday. Trump had said that earlier action followed Tehran’s downing of a US Army helicopter.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it answered with attacks on US bases in the region.

Before Wednesday’s strikes were launched, Trump had warned that the United States would hit Iran hard on Tuesday and would do so again on Wednesday. The exchanges have deepened concerns about renewed instability in the region.