US forces launch strikes against Iran

U.S. Strikes Resume [timestamp]

• The U.S. has begun attacking targets in Iran, as confirmed by CENTCOM.
• The strikes commenced at 8 p.m. Eastern time, approximately 27-28 minutes prior to the report.
• This action is in direct response to Iranian attacks from the previous day.

  Came just a few moments ago and then posted onto their social media site as well.

Background to the Strikes [timestamp]

• Recent events include strikes on Saudi Arabia from Iran-backed groups in Iraq.
• The U.S. had previously struck these groups, resulting in casualties, including IRGC members.
• Iran also attempted to strike a U.S. military base in Jordan, which the U.S. reported as shot down.

  We have seen strikes on Saudi Arabia from Iran-backed groups inside of Iraq.

Trump's Threat and Decision [timestamp]

• U.S. President Donald Trump had previously threatened severe retaliation against Iran.
• He stated that Iran would "get a beating" and that the U.S. would be "hitting them hard."
• Trump was in the Oval Office until about two hours before the strikes began, with the decision apparently made then.

  He said they're going to get a beating. We'll be hitting them hard.

Resumption of Bombing Campaign [timestamp]

• The current strikes resume a bombing campaign that had been paused.
• The U.S. had carried out 13 nights of attacks previously.
• On Friday, Trump met with advisors and surprisingly announced a stop to the attacks.

  But they now have resumed the United States, saying this is in response to the attempted missile attack on the Jordanian airbase on Tuesday.

Ongoing Operations and Uncertainty [timestamp]

• Details on what has been targeted or hit are not yet available, as operations may still be ongoing.
• CENTCOM confirmed the strikes started at the top of the last hour, suggesting continued activity.
• The U.S. had paused strikes for a couple of days to give diplomacy a chance.

  Well, the reason we're not getting a lot of detail at this point is that it would appear that these operations are still ongoing.

Diplomatic Goals and Patience [timestamp]

• Donald Trump desires a negotiated settlement with Iran, which he has made clear.
• However, his patience is not infinite, and he needs certainty that Iran is serious about negotiations.
• The U.S. views Iran's attacks on American bases as a sign they are not serious about diplomacy.

  But he's also made clear in the last few days that he wasn't going to hang around, that his patience wasn't infinite.

Saudi Involvement and De-escalation [timestamp]

• Saudi Arabia's defense minister was reportedly in talks within the last couple of hours.
• The Saudis were involved in attacks on Iranian-linked militias alongside the Americans on Tuesday.
• Saudi Arabia was also talking to J.D. Vance, attempting to de-escalate tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

  The Saudis were talking to J.D. Vance, trying to de-escalate the tension between the United States and Iran.

Duration and Target Limitations [timestamp]

• The duration of the bombing runs is not specified and is at the discretion of military commanders.
• The U.S. may have limited military targets available unless they consider civilian infrastructure, which could be a war crime.
• While the U.S. claims to have degraded Iran's air force, their missile and drone capabilities remain.

  But of course, a number of people here in Washington and elsewhere have flagged up that that could be possibly a war crime.