Trump Vows Response to Iranian Attacks on US Targets in Middle East

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – US President Donald Trump said Monday that Washington would respond forcefully to Iranian attacks on US and allied targets in the Middle East, as fighting between the two countries intensified following a prolonged pause.

“We’re going to hit them hard,” Trump said, according to a Fox News reporter who spoke briefly with the president. “There will be a response.”

Trump’s remarks came after Iran launched a retaliatory missile and drone operation against US and allied positions across the region. The Iranian attacks followed US strikes on the Iranian island of Larak in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.

The latest exchange marks a sharp escalation in the conflict between Washington and Tehran, which began on February 28, when the Trump administration launched major combat operations amid escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.

On Sunday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out precision strikes against two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) rocket launchers on Larak Island.

According to CENTCOM, the launchers were being prepared to deploy sea mines into international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

The strikes ended a period of relative calm after months of intense fighting and negotiations.

In response, the IRGC launched an operation early Monday dubbed “Punishment of the Aggressor,” targeting US and allied military positions across the Middle East.

Iran primarily used ballistic missiles against King Hussein Air Base and Al Azraq Air Base in Jordan, while drones were also launched toward targets in the United Arab Emirates.

The attacks represented Tehran’s direct response to the US strikes on Larak Island and raised concerns that the renewed hostilities could develop into a broader regional confrontation.