US strikes Iran, Iran hits back in first flare-up since July

The United States and Iran exchanged direct fire for the first time in over a month, ending a brief pause in hostilities. U.S. forces launched attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route. The strikes followed weeks of escalating threats from Washington. Iran responded by targeting U.S. positions in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. It was the first confirmed exchange of fire between the two sides since July 29. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. About one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through it, making the area strategically critical. No further details on casualties or damage were immediately available. Both governments have not issued official statements on the scale of the attacks. The escalation raises new concerns about stability in the region, where shipping and military activity have been on high alert for months.