Iran has declared it is engaged in a "full-scale war" with the United States, as American forces continued airstrikes on Iranian cities for a ninth consecutive night. The intensified military actions follow the deaths of three U.S. service members over the weekend.
President Donald Trump stated that the strikes conducted on Saturday hit Iran "very hard" and were performed "in honor of the three great patriots" who were killed. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian countered that "The reality is that the Islamic Republic of Iran is engaged in a full-scale war."
Two of the fallen service members were identified as Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, and Private Isabella Gonzales, 19. Their causes of death were not specified. These casualties bring the total number of U.S. deaths in the ongoing conflict to 17.
American commanders confirmed a "new wave" of strikes on Monday, with state media reporting that several Iranian cities were hit. The U.S. is reportedly preparing to further escalate its operations, with an additional fleet of F-16 jets being dispatched to the Middle East from bases in Europe. This strategy has been described by defense sources as "escalate to de-escalate."
Following interviews at a U.S. military base in Maryland, President Trump remarked that Iran had been "very badly damaged" and had "lost everything almost, militarily." However, one American official expressed concern to The Washington Post, suggesting that the White House may not be fully aware of the nation's missile limitations in the context of a "full-scale" conflict.
The conflict has also extended to neighboring countries. Kuwait reported intercepting missiles headed for the U.S. Ali Al-Salem base, and Jordan confirmed that Iranian warheads had entered its airspace. There were also unconfirmed reports of oil tankers being struck in the Strait of Hormuz.
This escalation occurs despite a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the U.S. and Iran last month with the stated intention of ending the conflict, which reportedly collapsed within days of its signing.
