The United States and Iran traded attacks on Friday, with Tehran targeting American assets across the Middle East in retaliation for US strikes in the biggest escalation since the two foes returned to outright war.
A month after they agreed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the conflict that began in February, the two sides have intensified fighting with strikes on targets around the region.
Iran on Friday said that US forces hit civilian infrastructure including an airport, a railway station and two bridges, with state media reporting at least eight killed and 20 wounded in overnight attacks.
It signalled an apparent expansion of American strikes with a focus on Iranian infrastructure, but there was no immediate comment from US officials.
Iran had previously threatened to retaliate against any infrastructure attacks, and on Friday launched strikes across the region in what appeared to be the largest exchange of fire since the MoU was signed last month.
“I officially declare that if the Americans strike the infrastructure of the Islamic republic, then all infrastructure across the region will become legitimate targets for Iran,” Iranian state TV quoted a senior armed forces spokesperson as saying late on Thursday.
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Iran’s Revolutionary Guard later said they had attacked two US radar sites in the Gulf sultanate of Oman as well as Al-Tanf military base in Syria, which US forces said they withdrew from earlier this year.
Jordan’s military said it shot down three Iranian missiles, reporting no casualties.
A battle over the strategic Strait of Hormuz has rekindled the war, with Tehran and Washington trading fire for six days running.
Iran’s health ministry said on Friday that at least 38 people had been killed and more than 400 injured in the country since fighting resumed.
Tehran claims control over Hormuz, which is a key shipping route for the global oil and gas trade, but it was open for free passage before the war.
‘Never back down’
Mediators have attempted to bring both sides back to the negotiating table.
China and Pakistan’s foreign ministers called on Friday for the US and Iran to stop fighting and resume negotiations, according to a statement following a meeting in Shanghai.
As Iran stepped up its strikes, allies of the US in the Gulf reported further attacks on Friday.
Qatar and Kuwait said they were responding to missile attacks, with AFP journalists in the Qatari capital Doha hearing several blasts.
