U.S. Central Command Confirms New Strikes on Multiple Targets in Iran

Photo: Reuters, Arab networks

U.S. Central Command Confirms New Strikes on Multiple Targets in Iran

Eliahu Amar, 59 minutes ago

The U.S. Central Command announced that, on the orders of President Donald Trump, additional strikes have begun against multiple targets in Iran, in response to Tehran’s "ongoing and unjustified aggression." Fox News reported that U.S. officials confirmed the air operation had already begun and that more strikes were expected in the coming hours. At the same time, the Pentagon is describing the move as "coercive diplomacy," aimed at bringing Iran back to the negotiating table.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced overnight, between Wednesday and Thursday, that the U.S. military had launched another wave of strikes against targets in Iran. In the official statement, it said that "U.S. Central Command forces began conducting additional self-defense strikes today at 5:15 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time against multiple targets in Iran, on the orders of the commander in chief." CENTCOM emphasized that the strikes were being carried out in response to Iran’s "ongoing and unjustified aggression."

Reports from Iran: Direct clashes between the Revolutionary Guards and the U.S. military in the Strait of Hormuz, American ships were attacked.

Shortly afterward, Fox News reported that U.S. officials confirmed the airstrikes against Iranian targets had already begun. According to the report, Washington assesses that additional targets across Iran will be struck in the coming hours, and that another round of strikes could increase pressure on Tehran and bring the Iranian leadership back to the negotiating table. At the same time, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon views the current operation as "coercive diplomacy," a strategy intended to apply targeted military pressure to force concessions from Iran in diplomatic talks. According to the report, the American objective is not only to damage military capabilities, but also to create significant leverage ahead of the resumption of talks.

The New York Times reported that "hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough faded after the Qatari mediation team left Tehran on Wednesday without any progress in the talks." Iran claims that in response to the American strike on its territory, U.S. targets in Iraq were attacked.

The American announcement came alongside reports in Iran of explosions and the activation of air defense systems. According to local reports, blasts were heard in Tehran, and explosions were reported in the south of the country, in Sirik and Minab. Air defense systems were activated on Kish Island, although the Iranian news agency Tasnim claimed that no strikes were carried out on the islands of Kish and Qeshm.

Earlier overnight, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived at U.S. Central Command headquarters in Florida and said that "the strikes against Iran tonight will be clear and powerful." At the same time, President Donald Trump convened a meeting in the Situation Room at the White House after telling reporters that the United States would "hit Iran very hard."

Against the backdrop of the escalation, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq issued an unusual warning to its citizens, calling on them to maintain a high level of alert and follow developments in the region. The embassy warned of flight disruptions and even the possibility of airspace closures at short notice, and stressed that the travel advisory for Iraq remains at Level 4, the highest level.

Meanwhile, Iran’s leadership continues to issue messages of defiance. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that any aggression would be met with an immediate response, and President Masoud Pezeshkian made clear that Iran "will not surrender" if attacked.

Iran, United States, Donald Trump, Tehran, Strait of Hormuz, Pete Hegseth