Tense Night: U.S. Carries Out Wave of Strikes Across Iran, Which Responds With Fire

After a series of threats heard last night, the United States military struck Iranian targets overnight Thursday in Tehran, the port city of Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Qeshm and other areas across Iran. In response, Iran once again launched ballistic missiles and drones toward American targets in Gulf states and Jordan. Early in the night, several explosions were heard across Iran, and after several reports of aircraft and American attacks, the U.S. military announced the strikes. In a statement from U.S. Central Command (Centcom), it said: "U.S. forces have begun conducting additional self-defense strikes against multiple targets in Iran. The strikes are in response to Iran's unjustified and ongoing behavior."

Meanwhile, a Pentagon source told The Wall Street Journal that the attack targeted air defense and radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz, but it was also reported that a petrochemical plant in Asaluyeh, which produces about 50% of Iran's total petrochemical output, was hit. Iranian media denied that the plant had been struck. At the same time, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported explosions heard near the airport and the Iranian air force base in Bandar Abbas.