WASHINGTON – U.S. forces launched a new round of strikes against Iran on Sept. 1 after President Donald Trump vowed to "hit them hard" in response to Iranian strikes that were intercepted in Jordan.
The strikes, which began at 12 p.m. ET, are targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sites, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. It did not identify the locations.
"The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region," U.S. Central Command said.
In a resumption of hostilities after a one-month pause, the IRGC launched ballistic missile strikes against two
U.S. bases overnight in Jordan in response to U.S. forces striking two Iranian launchers on Larak Island Aug. 30. It was the first time the United States attacked Iran since July 30 in a war that reached its six-month mark Aug. 28.
Two people were killed and others were injured in the attack on Larak Island, Iran state media reported. No injuries were reported at either U.S. base from the intercepted strikes in Jordan.
"We're going to hit them hard," Trump told Fox News on Aug. 31, according to reporter Trey Yingst, who spoke to the president by phone. "There will be a response."
The renewed attacks call into question the administration's plans to shift away from military operations in Iran in favor of economic pressure on the country through sanctions as a way to inflict damage. The Trump administration last week announced new economic sanctions on Iran and threated to put secondary sanctions on countries that have financial transactions with Iran as part of an effort it is calling Operation Economic Outcast.
Trump called Iran "a failed nation" when asked by a reporter on Aug. 31 whether the new strikes are part of a limited campaign or a return to full-scale military operations. "That doesn't mean we won't smack them," Trump said from the Oval Office.
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US launches new strikes on Iran after Trump vowed to 'hit them hard'
