US and Iran Engage in Direct Combat as Lull in War Ends

The exchange of fire began with Iran launching a series of missile and drone attacks targeting US military installations in the Persian Gulf. According to reports, Iran deployed approximately 30 drones and several ballistic missiles, striking a US naval base in the Gulf of Oman. The US responded with air strikes, targeting Iranian missile sites in eastern Syria and Iraq. The attacks were coordinated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and supported by allied militias. The US military confirmed the strikes, stating that they were in response to Iranian aggression. Iran’s state media claimed the attacks were a preemptive measure to deter further US involvement in the region. The conflict has drawn condemnation from international observers, with some warning of a broader regional war. Diplomatic talks between the two nations, which had been ongoing since late 2025, have now been suspended. Sources report varying details on the scale of the attacks. Tehran claims it launched 30 drones and several missiles, while Washington asserts that the strikes were limited to a few missile launches. The exact number of casualties and damage remains unclear, with both sides refusing to release detailed casualty figures.