The United States military has launched what it described as a “heavy wave” of strikes against Iran in retaliation for an attempted ballistic missile attack on American forces.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation targeted dozens of facilities linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This included military command centres, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities and air defence positions.
The strikes followed Tuesday’s attempted missile attacks on US forces based in Jordan. Alongside incidents involving commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said all Iranian missiles aimed at American forces were intercepted.
Iranian state media reported that the latest US attacks killed three civilians on Qeshm Island. This included a father, a mother and their two-year-old child. Additional strikes were also reported in southern and western parts of the country.
The latest escalation comes after months of conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.
Although President Donald Trump had previously expressed optimism that diplomatic negotiations could end the fighting, hostilities resumed after the reported Iranian missile attack on a US base in Jordan.
Before the operation, Trump warned that the United States would respond forcefully.
“We’re going to be hitting them very hard because it’s our turn to hit them,” he told reporters at the White House.
The latest strikes reportedly began at about 20:00 Eastern Time on Wednesday and lasted for roughly one hour.
Meanwhile, Jordan’s military announced that its air defence systems intercepted five Iranian missiles that entered the country’s airspace on Thursday.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had targeted a US air base and command centre in Jordan in response to what it described as American aggression. It also claimed responsibility for attacks on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the vessels of ignoring security warnings.
Conflict Reaches Iraq
The widening conflict has also spread into Iraq. Earlier this week, the US military confirmed joint operations with Saudi Arabia. It targeted what it described as Iranian-backed militant infrastructure in eastern Iraq.
The Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), an umbrella group that includes several Iran-backed militias, said at least 20 of its members were killed in the strikes.
Iraq’s presidency condemned the operation as a violation of the country’s sovereignty. However, President Trump later told Fox News that the strikes had been coordinated with the Iraqi government.
Despite intermittent discussions about diplomacy, there is currently little indication that the conflict is nearing an end.
READ ALSO: https://alo360.net/russia-charges-telegram-founder-pavel-durov-terrorism/