US strikes Iran for second night as Iran retaliates with missile attacks on Jordan and Gulf bases

For a second consecutive night, the United States has launched heavy strikes on some 90 targets across Iran, escalating a conflict that has now drawn in multiple Gulf states. The attacks came after Iran fired ballistic missiles at Jordan this afternoon, following earlier strikes on US bases in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan. President Donald Trump, for the first time since a ceasefire in April, ordered cruise missiles to strike a critical railway bridge used for trade with Russia and China, according to sources. Tehran responded with kamikaze drones and ballistic missiles aimed at US military assets across the region. Israel said tonight that it was ready to attack Iran for a third time “if necessary”. The strikes did not stop large crowds from turning out in the holy city of Mashad for the former supreme leader’s funeral, a display of defiance amid the bombardment. As peace talks hang in the balance, the question now is what comes next for a conflict that shows no sign of de-escalation.