Middle East Conflict Escalates: US and Iran Launch Mutual Strikes, Strait of Hormuz Situation Worsens, Trump Issues Tough Warning: "Hit Them Hard"

Middle East tensions have continued to escalate since last night and early this morning. Iranian media reported that U.S. forces carried out airstrikes in the Iran-Iraq border region; the U.S. side, however, stated that Iran fired multiple missiles at U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East. Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) said joint U.S. and Saudi airstrikes targeted multiple of its headquarters, killing four members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Jordan announced it had shot down five missiles fired from Iran. Trump responded that U.S. forces would "strike them hard". Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have further escalated. Iran claimed it had intercepted three "violating" oil tankers, while the U.S. said it is deploying military forces to escort oil and gas transport vessels through the strait and has forced 20 commercial ships to reroute. The U.S. Treasury Department also sanctioned eight oil tankers and 10 Iran-related entities, accusing them of participating in a "ransom network" in the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, Saudi Arabia is pushing to form an international coalition to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks. In other developments, Israeli officials said Iran is still conducting uranium enrichment; U.S. media reported that U.S. weapons stockpiles are declining, making a short-term conflict with Iran unlikely. Sources also revealed that the scheduled meeting between the Iraqi Prime Minister and Saudi Crown Prince has been canceled due to militia attacks targeting Saudi Arabia in Iraq. Trump also said he hopes Congress will add Iran-focused tariff measures to the Russia sanctions bill.