The U.S. military on the 29th (local time) resumed a large-scale military operation targeting Iranian territory. It has been six days since U.S. President Donald Trump halted the bombing to open a diplomatic channel.
On the 29th (local time), Axios, citing a senior U.S. military official, reported that the U.S. military carried out massive airstrikes that day against key military targets inside Iran. This military action is the first direct strike in six days since the bombing campaign against Iran was temporarily halted on the 24th at President Trump's direction. Previously, for 13 straight days, the U.S. military relentlessly bombed Iran's core military facilities and strategic strongholds, ramping up the pressure of force to the extreme.
The previous day, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at a U.S. military base located in Jordan. Immediately after the surprise attack, an enraged President Trump met with reporters in the Oval Office on the afternoon of the 29th and warned forcefully, saying, "Now it's our turn," and "The United States will strike Iran very hard late." It is seen as reaffirming the principle that armed provocations will be met with certain retaliation.
Trump then escalated the offensive by revealing behind-the-scenes moves by Iran. Trump said, "Iran admitted the missile launch was a mistake and asked the United States not to retaliate." Axios reported that Trump did not accept Iran's dissuasion and ordered an immediate and destructive military response. It was a move that clearly signaled a resolve to neutralize Iran's warfighting capability by mobilizing overwhelming military force instead of hasty compromise.
Foreign and security experts are closely watching the ripple effects the resumption of airstrikes will have on the broader Middle East situation. Given the United States has carried out a sweeping retaliatory strike, Iran is also highly likely to undertake reckless additional provocations to quell internal hard-line backlash. Some noted that while the leaders of both countries may try to avoid the worst-case scenario of all-out war, repeated sporadic armed clashes could drag them deeper into a prolonged conflict. Mediation efforts by the international community are also expected to struggle to find a clear breakthrough for the time being.