US launches second round of strikes on Iran

The US military struck Iranian targets for a second consecutive night, hitting sites on Sirik and Qeshm Island after Iran's forces attacked commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz with drones. Trump escalated his rhetoric through the week, threatening to 'militarily complete the job' as air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain and Kuwait following retaliatory attacks on Gulf states. The strikes deal a serious blow to any prospect of a sustained ceasefire and raise the risk of wider regional escalation. US Central Command confirmed the Saturday strikes were 'in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping.'