WASHINGTON — The United States military has launched targeted airstrikes against strategic facilities in the Persian Gulf, drastically escalating the ongoing conflict. The operation, authorized by the White House, struck multiple positions on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, hitting command centers and drone storage sites.

Pentagon officials stated the heavy bombardment was a direct response to a surge of drone and missile attacks targeting American personnel and commercial vessels in the region. While Washington coordinates maritime defense with regional allies to secure vital shipping lanes, Tehran has vowed swift retaliation. Global markets are bracing for energy supply disruptions as tensions reach their highest point this year.