US bombs Iran for ninth straight night

The United States attacked Iranian military and communications sites for a ninth consecutive night, with President Donald Trump stating the strikes honor three U.S. soldiers killed in recent days.

Iran retaliated against U.S. targets in Syria and Jordan, while warning that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed to all energy shipments as long as U.S. attacks continue. Tehran also claimed two oil tankers exploded in the waterway, a report the U.S. military disputed.

The escalation follows the deaths of three U.S. troops in Jordan and Iraq and the complete collapse of a mid-June ceasefire. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remains open to diplomacy, but will not allow Iran to control the critical global trade route.