U.S. launches new Iran strikes, Trump threatens ‘massive attack’ as war widens

The United States launched a fresh barrage of strikes on Iran overnight as President Donald Trump threatened a major new escalation after Tehran opened a second front in its pressure campaign on the world economy.

JERUSALEM — The United States launched a fresh barrage of strikes on Iran overnight after Tehran opened a second front in its pressure campaign on the world economy.

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President Donald Trump threatened a major new escalation and on Thursday told Axios he is weighing whether to launch a “massive attack” on the Islamic Republic that would be “bigger than ever before.” The president’s warning and subsequent 13th night of military strikes came as oil briefly surged above $100 a barrel.

Iran has shown little sign of bowing to U.S. demands, launching new attacks on shipping as well as U.S. bases and allies across the Middle East. These two fronts have combined to increase the cost of the renewed conflict — in human lives, including American soldiers, and global prices.