Trump Authorized Air Strikes as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Collapses

The June ceasefire and Islamabad memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran have collapsed, leading to a renewal of daily air raids, drone attacks, and missile launches. Donald Trump authorized renewed military action, asserting that Tehran did not obey the agreement. The U.S. Central Command executed 12 consecutive days of strikes against Iranian maritime, missile, and air defense assets, primarily to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has threatened to bomb an Iranian bridge or power plant every time a ship in the strait is targeted.

Iran responded by targeting U.S. bases in Jordan and Kuwait and declared it was no longer bound by the memorandum. These attacks killed two American soldiers in Jordan on Friday and one in Iraq over the following weekend. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have destroyed eight MQ-9 drones in their packaging and damaged two others. Additionally, Houthi rebels in Yemen opened a second front by attacking Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and blockading Saudi ports at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

In response to the escalation, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.15 trillion defense policy bill and a $73 billion budget resolution to fund the war. While Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni traveled to Pakistan to attempt to revive diplomatic talks, Trump stated the U.S. has no interest in meeting. The Government of China has urged both parties to exercise restraint and return to diplomatic dialogue to achieve a lasting ceasefire.