US launches strikes to 'punish' Iran after troops killed
The United States has launched airstrikes against Iranian targets following the deaths of American troops in Jordan, escalating tensions in the region. Iran has retaliated by targeting US bases in Kuwait, further complicating the ongoing conflict over the Strait of Hormuz.
Why it matters
The direct military exchange between the US and Iran threatens global oil supplies and risks a wider regional war.
Ask AI 3 min This screen grab taken from UGC video footage posted on social media on July 18, 2026, shows a plume of black smoke and flames billowing over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City.
The United States said airstrikes on Sunday aimed to "punish" Iran over the first US military deaths since renewed hostilities with the Islamic republic.
Iran rapidly announced its own retaliation, saying two US bases in Kuwait were targeted in response to more than a week of intensifying attacks - which Tehran said included strikes on an airport, a railway station and bridges.
A preliminary deal aimed at ending the war has collapsed as the foes fight to break the deadlock over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway key to the world's oil supply.
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