The situation between the US and Iran continues to escalate, as strikes were exchanged overnight and early on Thursday morning.
Washington began its attacks at 9.15pm GMT, citing Tehan’s "unwarranted and continued aggression". Explosions were heard in various cities across Iran, including near the capital Tehran, Sirik in the south, Karaj in the west, and Abyek in the Qazvin province.
Meanwhile, Iran launched fresh assaults across the region, targeting various US structures in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. The countries issued several alerts for civilians to seek immediate shelter from the attacks.
Here are some of the latest developments:
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Washington will resume bombing Iran if no nuclear deal is reached. "We're going to be attacking them and attacking them very hard," Trump told reporters.
Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the country's top joint military command, said it will target any ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Tasnim news agency. It also added that the strait is now "completely closed to all types of vessel", following fresh US attacks against the country.
Tehran's state media denied US President Donald Trump's claims that he had direct contact with Iranian officials following American attacks on the country. "Trump's false claim that Iranian officials contacted him is a cover to evade war with Iran," an unnamed official was quoted as saying.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force chief has vowed "hell" in the region following the latest wave of US attacks. "This is the response to the audacity of the Americans in the region, God willing," he added.
Flights at the Kuwait International Airport have resumed after they were suspended due to Iranian attacks, the Civil Aviation Authority announced.
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