Around 2am local time on Wednesday, the United States launched a fresh round of strikes against Iran, just hours after Tehran claimed it had hit two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as targets in Bahrain and Jordan.

This marks the 11th consecutive night of US military action against Iran, according to reports from the US military, with President Donald Trump warning that the US is 'not finished' attacking the Middle Eastern nation.

The strikes follow a tense week of escalating hostilities between the two countries, with Iran's Houthi allies threatening to blockade Saudi ports, and the US and Iran engaging in a war of words over the recent attacks in the Gulf.

Escalating Conflict: Background and Significance

The latest US strikes are the latest in a series of military actions taken by the US against Iran, which began last year following the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal.

The conflict has been marked by a series of tit-for-tat attacks, with both sides trading accusations and threats. On Tuesday, Iran claimed it had hit two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route in the Gulf, as well as targets in Bahrain and Jordan.

The US military has confirmed that it has been conducting airstrikes against Iran, but has not provided further details. President Trump has warned that the US is 'not finished' with Iran, but has not specified what further action will be taken.