United News of Bangladesh

Jordanian air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran early Thursday, the state-run Petra news agency reported, hours after the US military said it had carried out a major new wave of strikes against Iran. No casualties were reported in Jordan following the missile interceptions, Petra quoted a spokesman for the Jordanian armed forces as saying. The US Central Command said in a social media post that American forces had spent more than two hours striking “dozens” of targets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The targets included military command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance and defense sites, according to the command. The strikes came hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran “very hard” after Iranian forces targeted a US military base in Jordan. Iranian state media reported that two people were injured in attacks on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Explosions were also reported in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. The latest escalation followed US and Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq on Wednesday. At least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers were reportedly killed in those attacks. In another development, drone strikes set fire to two natural gas vessels at Egypt’s port of Damietta, British maritime security company Ambrey said. It was not immediately known who carried out the attacks on a US-owned floating storage facility and a Greek-owned tanker. No injuries were reported. The renewed violence on several fronts after days of relative calm raised fears that the conflict could again escalate into a full-scale war. The developments also highlighted the challenges of ending a five-month conflict that has disrupted the global economy and become increasingly unpopular among Americans. The continued fighting could also increase concerns that the US is using up its already limited stocks of advanced weapons needed to protect its military bases and allies.