US launches more strikes against Iran, signaling a new stage of the war

Supervising Producer

WASHINGTON —

The U.S. military carried out strikes against Iran overnight in response to the country launching missiles at American forces that were intercepted, U.S. Central Command said.

The conflict appears to be widening, with Iran also attacking Egyptian ships. Egypt is a close ally of the U.S. This could spark a new stage of the conflict.

This escalation comes after Saudi Arabia joined U.S. military actions against Tehran-backed proxies in Iraq on Tuesday.

At this point, the Trump administration does not appear to have a path forward to resume negotiations with Iran. A senior official told the Associated Press that the administration is not actively pursuing talks at the moment as fighting continues.

The bombings overnight mark the first U.S. strikes on mainland Iran since last Thursday, further signaling that the five-month war is far from over.

The conflict began on Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched attacks, citing claims by the Trump administration that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States. The administration’s stated objectives were to destroy Iran’s missile and naval arsenals and prevent the country from developing a nuclear weapon.

Efforts to end hostilities, including failed ceasefires, have not succeeded. The U.S. and Iran are currently more than halfway through a 60-day period established by an interim deal aimed at negotiating a resolution.

Experts have also raised concerns about how long both sides can sustain the conflict. However, Trump suggested earlier this week that the U.S. has sufficient munitions to continue strikes.

Decreasing Public Support for War

According to a new Quinnipiac University poll, 60% of voters oppose military action in Iran and 34% support it. Pollsters have measured falling support for the war since the conflict started.

Two-thirds of people said the war has not been worth fighting, and about one-third feel it’s been worth it. A little more than half added they think the U.S. is not winning the war.

CNN polled adults about Trump’s handling of the war. Seventy-two percent said they disapprove of the action he’s taken versus about one-third of people who approve.

That same poll suggests the public is losing confidence in his strategy. Seventy-four percent said the president doesn’t have a clear plan for the war. That’s up from 60% in the early days of the conflict.

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