In a brief tweet on its official X account, it said the strikes aim to continue undermining Iranian military capabilities.

Display the tweet on platform X

Iran and the United States escalated mutual attacks on Thursday in a week-long escalation that undermines the continuation of a truce they reached last month, however, Iran's release of an American citizen indicated a possible path to avoid the resumption of all-out war.

The United States launched two major waves of airstrikes on Wednesday, mostly targeting sites near the coast in southern Iran, for the first time since a memorandum of understanding halted fighting last month.

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at American military bases in neighboring countries, including targeting an air base in Jordan that had been recently expanded.

After Tehran resumed closing the Strait of Hormuz, Washington reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports as of Wednesday. The U.S. military said it fired on a tanker near Iran's Kharg Island, as Hellfire missiles struck its stack.

In a possible next step, Iran hinted that it might push its Houthi allies in Yemen to close another major strait, the Bab el-Mandeb at the entrance to the Red Sea. Sources told Reuters that Iran has already informed the Houthis to close it if Washington carries out its threats to attack Iranian infrastructure.

The escalating bombing over a week showed that both sides are approaching the limits of escalation they set during four months of fighting before last month's truce. But as the attacks mounted, U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the release of an American citizen in Iran, calling it a "gesture of goodwill."

Discuss the news with artificial intelligence