Iran launches missile, drone strikes on US targets in Syria

Iran launched missile and drone strikes on U.S. military and allied targets across the Middle East on Wednesday, warning of “severe” consequences after recent American attacks on Iranian soil killed five civilians at a wedding and wounded dozens more.

The strikes came less than 48 hours after a U.S. airstrike in eastern Syria, which Iran says killed five people attending a wedding celebration near the border with Iraq. Tehran called the U.S. action a “heinous crime” and vowed retaliation, accusing Washington of escalating tensions in the region. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said their response targeted Israeli military sites in the Golan Heights, a U.S. base in Iraq, and other strategic locations in Syria and Yemen. U.S. officials confirmed multiple missile launches but said most were intercepted by Israeli and regional air defenses.

Regional tensions have surged since October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel, triggering Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The U.S. has provided military support to Israel, including airstrikes in Iraq and Syria targeting Iran-backed militias. These militias, including Kata’ib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba, have increased attacks on U.S. forces in the region, killing three American troops since October. Iran denies direct control but supports the groups as part of its “axis of resistance” against U.S. influence. The latest escalation risks drawing Iran directly into open conflict with Israel or the U.S., raising fears of a broader regional war.

The U.S. has moved additional naval assets and missile defense systems to the region in response. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Wednesday that Washington would “pay a heavy price” for its actions. Diplomats warn that further tit-for-tat strikes could spiral out of control. The United Nations has called for restraint, but both sides appear locked in a cycle of retaliation with no clear off-ramp in sight.