US Strikes Iranian Military Sites After Base Attack; Drone Hits Tanker in Egypt
The United States military launched a series of airstrikes on Iranian targets early Thursday, following a missile attack on a US base in Jordan earlier this week. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it struck dozens of sites linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal defence positions.
Explosions were reported in several Iranian cities, including Qeshm, Kish, Bandar Abbas, Abadan, and Bushehr. Iran's Tasnim news agency confirmed damage on Qeshm Island. The strikes came hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran "very hard" following the attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, which hosts American troops.
Separately, two ships, including a US-owned gas storage tanker, caught fire after an explosion at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta on Wednesday. Maritime security firm Ambrey reported that a drone struck the American tanker. No group has claimed responsibility, and Egyptian authorities have not officially confirmed the cause.
The US military said its strikes aimed to "further diminish threats posed by Iran and its proxies to American forces, commercial shipping, and neighbouring Gulf countries." The IRGC had launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran on July 28 targeting US forces in Jordan.
The developments mark a significant escalation in tensions between the US and Iran, with potential implications for regional stability. No casualties from the US strikes have been reported yet.
