The Trump administration has formally notified Congress that U.S. military operations against Iran are underway, as American forces launched a third consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets. Separately, Iranian cruise missiles hit two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one crew member and injuring eight others.
The congressional notification has reignited debate over the administration’s responsibilities under the War Powers Act. President Donald Trump had previously informed Congress of military action on March 2. Under that law, U.S. forces may remain engaged for 60 days following a presidential notification, with the possibility of a 30-day extension — but continued operations beyond that window require congressional approval. It is not yet clear whether the White House views the latest strikes as the start of an entirely new operation, which could potentially reset the 60-day clock.
Prior to the overnight operation, Trump declared, “We will hit Iran hard tonight. Sometimes I disagree with Netanyahu, and I make sure he knows.” He also stated, “The memorandum of understanding was a test; they did not honor it.” Explosions were reported in Bandar Abbas and on Kish Island, according to Reuters.
U.S. Central Command later confirmed that the five-hour operation used precision munitions to strike coastal defense systems, missile sites, unmanned aerial vehicles, and maritime capabilities at locations including Bushehr, Chabahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas. The military said the mission was designed to diminish Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping. Officials also noted that more than 50,000 U.S. troops remain stationed throughout the Middle East.
The United Arab Emirates Defense Ministry reported that an Indian national was killed and eight crew members were wounded — four of them seriously — when Iranian cruise missiles struck two tankers in the southern Strait of Hormuz within Omani territorial waters. The ministry confirmed that fires on both ships had been put out and stated it “reserves its full right to respond to the escalation.” Reuters also cited the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations as reporting that a separate tanker northeast of Qalhat, Oman, was struck by an unidentified object, though no casualties were reported in that incident.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps claimed the tankers had disregarded warnings, disabled their navigation systems, and attempted to pass through what it described as a “mined route.” The IRGC cautioned that cooperation with what it called the “aggressive enemy” in the Strait of Hormuz could delay the reopening of the waterway and potentially trigger a worldwide energy crisis.
Iranian forces also claimed to have attacked targets in Bahrain and Jordan, while both countries reported successfully intercepting hostile aerial threats and missiles. Following the night’s events, President Trump said, “We are attacking their capabilities related to the Strait of Hormuz and eliminating their offensive capacity,” and added, “I think there’s a possibility for a deal.”
