Tehran, Iran — Ekhbary News Agency
Loud explosions reverberated across Tehran, prompting the activation of the city's air defense system late Tuesday, according to local reports. This development unfolds amidst a fresh wave of US attacks targeting Iranian command centers, air defense sites, and missile systems in the Strait of Hormuz area. The Pentagon confirmed precision munitions were used against targets in various locations, including Bandar Abbas, concluding operations by 9 PM US time.
Escalating Strikes and Retaliation
The US Central Command, through a statement on X, asserted these strikes aim to diminish Iran's capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz. For what it's worth, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, known as the Pasdaran, quickly claimed responsibility for a retaliatory ballistic missile attack on a US air base in Jordan. They described this as a response to an alleged US strike near a pediatric oncology hospital in Iran, asserting US forces used Jordanian bases for their operations across various Iranian zones. This back-and-forth underscores a deeply volatile regional dynamic.
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Broader Regional Security Posture
Separately, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz affirmed his nation's resolve to maintain forces within "security zones" in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. During an overnight discussion with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Katz emphasized this strategy protects Israeli borders and communities from jihadist threats, a lesson drawn from the October 7, 2023, attacks. "We are committed to protecting the citizens of Israel from every threat and that is what we intend to do," Katz stated, as cited by the Jerusalem Post. Meanwhile, US President Trump convened national security leaders to weigh further strategic strikes, even considering a ground intervention on Kharg Island to secure Iran's main oil terminal. A new mural in Tehran depicting Trump in a coffin draped in the US flag, bearing the text 'We will kill Trump,' vividly illustrates the intense animosity.
