The US Central Command confirmed on Tuesday that the US government bombed Iran for the second time in a week. ^[1] US Central Command (Centcom) reported on Tuesday that US forces conducted airstrikes against targets of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran at 16:00 GMT. ^[2] On September 1, 2026, Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices rose 4.57% to USD 89.68 per barrel, reaching their highest level since July. ^[3] A US bombing on Tuesday killed at least 18 people, including civilians at a wedding in Kuhestak on the Iranian coast of the Strait of Hormuz. ^[4] Iran launched drone and missile attacks on US and allied bases in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan, and Iraqi Kurdistan on Wednesday as a response to US bombings. ^[5] Iran launched retaliatory attacks against US targets in the Gulf and beyond on Wednesday, marking the largest escalation of the conflict in weeks. ^[6] The attacks occurred after recent attempts by the IRGC to attack commercial maritime transport in the Strait of Hormuz and against US military personnel deployed in the region. ^[7] This is the second aggression since the US attacked Larak island between Sunday night and Monday morning, where Tehran was preparing to launch missiles loaded with naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz. ^[8] The US previously struck Larak Island on Sunday night, an action Washington claims Tehran used to prepare for launching mine-laden rockets into the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in two deaths. ^[9] Iran responded to the US strikes by attacking US bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, with no damage reported at the time of the report. ^[10] The US military stated that the airstrikes were a response to recent attempts by the IRGC to attack commercial maritime transport in the Strait of Hormuz and to attack US military members deployed in the region. ^[11] The price increase occurred after the United States conducted a second airstrike on Iran within a week, targeting an airport in southern Iran. ^[12]