Trump says U.S. to hit Iran 'hard' after sides exchange fire
by Joe Fisher · UPIAug. 31 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump threatened to escalate attacks on Iran on Monday after fighting intensified for the first time in a month.
The U.S. military launched strikes on Iranian troops in Larak Island on Sunday and Iran responded with a strike on U.S. bases in Jordan. The president said in a TV interview that the United States will respond to the attacks in Jordan.
"We're going to hit them hard," Trump said on Fox News.
U.S. Central Command said in a social media post on Sunday that it took "limited" action against Iranian forces that were planting mines in the Strait of Hormuz. It added that the Iranian military was "observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines" into the strait.
Iran warned that it would respond to the strikes by the United States. Jordan's military reported intercepting at least eight missiles as of Monday morning.
Iran launched drones over an air base in the United Arab Emirates and at least one over its waters, warning that it is targeting locations "where helicopters and troops of the child-killing American military" are stationed.
With fighting again escalating between the United States and Iran, global oil prices were on the rise. Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, rose by 3% on Monday morning to $91 per barrel. This was after some relief for the oil market last week with prices declining slightly.
About 15 ships per day have traveled through the Strait of Hormuz over the past week. Before the war, the route had millions of barrels of oil pass through it daily as one of the key thoroughfares in the Middle East oil trade.