EE.UU. e Irán intercambian ataques después de que dos soldados estadounidenses murieran en Jordania

A US soldier was killed and another injured in an Iranian attack in Iraq on Saturday, escalating tensions between the two nations amid ongoing hostilities. According to US military officials, the attack occurred in the region near the border with Iran, though specific locations remain under investigation. The incident marks yet another escalation in the cycle of retaliatory strikes that have characterized the conflict since early July. The US launched a series of air strikes against Iranian military targets late Saturday, targeting coastal surveillance and air defense installations in the Strait of Hormuz. These strikes were part of a broader campaign aimed at degrading Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the area, according to US Central Command (Centcom). The operation was specifically directed at the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), which the US accuses of launching attacks against American personnel in Jordan the previous night. One US service member remains unaccounted for following that incident. Iranian state media claimed that the US strikes hit Qeshm Island, a strategic location in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran reportedly conducted drone attacks on two US bases in Kuwait, Camp Udairi and Ali Al Salem Air Base, according to the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency. This follows a pattern of mutual accusations, with both sides accusing each other of targeting critical infrastructure. The US denies such claims, asserting that all strikes were focused solely on military objectives, including logistics hubs. The conflict has intensified in recent days, with both nations accused of attacking civilian infrastructure. The US has maintained that its operations adhered strictly to military targets, even as Iran alleged damage to bridges and stations. On Saturday, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) accused Tehran of targeting civilian facilities after Kuwait reported that a power plant and a water desalination plant were hit. The Kuwaiti government condemned the attacks as violations of international law, citing the UN Charter and Security Council Resolution 2817. The prime minister visited a hospital to check on casualties, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Kuwait confirmed that the power and water desalination plant was attacked for the second time in two days. Emergency crews worked to contain the fire at the site, which is crucial for the nation’s energy and water supply. The repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure have drawn widespread condemnation, with the GCC emphasizing the illegality of such actions under international law. While civilian objects like bridges or power plants can lose their protected status if used to support military efforts, the scale of these attacks has raised concerns about collateral damage and humanitarian impact. The conflict has deepened since a preliminary ceasefire agreement collapsed shortly after it was announced in June. The deal, brokered during a tense period of negotiations, was declared “over” by former President Donald Trump on July 8, effectively ending any formal attempt at de-escalation. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, later issued a statement condemning the US for repeatedly breaching the agreement, stating that the signatures of US leaders hold no real weight. This rhetoric reflects a broader distrust between the two nations, with neither side willing to back down despite the growing toll of violence. As the conflict continues, the number of casualties has risen significantly. The US death toll has reached 16, including a recently identified Navy pilot who was declared dead earlier this month. Meanwhile, Iran reports that over 500 people have been injured and at least 50 have died in US strikes over the past three weeks. The cycle of retaliation shows no signs of slowing, with both sides continuing to accuse each other of escalating the crisis through unlawful means. The coming days will likely see further developments as the situation remains volatile along the shared borders of Iraq and Kuwait.