U.S. strikes Iran as Tehran retaliates, raising risk of wider war

BREAKING: US strikes IRGC targets around the Strait of Hormuz as Iran launches a 'decisive operation' targeting American bases and interests in the region, with Trump threatening a 'much harder' response and warning of a wider war.

Iran and the United States are now trading fire in real time.

Central Command says American forces began hitting Revolutionary Guard targets around the Strait of Hormuz at noon Eastern, and this is the footage of those strikes going in. The trigger, according to Washington, was Iran trying to lay sea mines in the strait and firing missiles at a U. S. Base in Jordan.

Tehran answered within hours. State media says Iranian forces launched what they're calling a decisive operation against American bases and interests across the region, and explosions were reported over Aqaba in southern Jordan. Carrier aircraft like these are flying the strike missions, and the U. S. Embassy in Qatar is warning Americans about airspace closures and unforeseen escalation.

President Trump called the strikes large and powerful, and threatened to hit Iran at a much harder and higher level if it retaliates. It already has. A war he predicted would last four weeks is now widening, with just 36 percent of Americans behind it.

This is Sara White, reporting for HIT.