US Strikes Iran For 12th Consecutive Night As Tehran Vows 'Eye-For-An-Eye' Retaliation

Washington: Tensions in the Middle East show no signs of easing. The United States military on Thursday announced that it had carried out airstrikes against Iran for the 12th consecutive night, damaging Iranian military infrastructure. In a social media post, the US Central Command said that the attacks were designed to "further degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz."

What did the US say?

The US Central Command reiterated that the strikes were aimed at further degrading Iran's ability to threaten civilian marfiners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters, as the US seeks to regain control of the Strait of Hormuz and restore the flow of international shipping. 

"At 5:30 p.m. ET today, U.S. forces began launching more strikes against Iranian military targets at the Commander in Chief's direction. The mission will continue to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters," CENTCOM said in a post on X.

What did Donald Trump say?

President Donald Trump on Wednesday in a social media post said that if Iran attacks a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the US will destroy a bridge or a power plant in response. 

"From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT," Trump wrote on social media.

What did the Iran say?

While responding to US attacks, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that any aggression against Iran, including that against the country's infrastructure, would be met with a "decisive response" and those contributing to it will also be considered as "legitimate targets".

"Our defense doctrine is clear: eye for an eye. Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response. Those who contribute to such aggression, whatever the kind of support, will also be considered as legitimate targets," Araghchi wrote in a post on X.