The US military has completed a heavy wave of retaliatory strikes against Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities across multiple locations. The operation, announced by US Central Command (CENTCOM), struck dozens of sites including military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance posts, and maritime capabilities. The strikes come in response to Iranian missile attacks on American bases in Jordan, which marked Tehran's first regional strike in days.
US Strikes Target IRGC Facilities
According to CENTCOM, the strikes were successful and focused on degrading Iran's ability to launch further attacks. The US had vowed to hit Iran hard after the Jordan base attack, with President Trump stating that retaliation would be severe. The operation involved a heavy wave of precision strikes, though specific aircraft and munitions were not detailed.
Iran Reports Hits in Khuzestan Province
Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that strikes hit several cities in the southwestern Khuzestan province, including Abadan, Shadegan, Arvandkenar, and Ahvaz, as well as Qeshm island in the Gulf. Provincial authorities confirmed the attacks, which caused damage but no immediate casualty figures were released by Iranian officials. The IRGC warned that resistance would continue as long as threats against Iran persist. "As long as the threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran continue… the resistance will continue," a Revolutionary Guard statement said.
Regional Escalation: Saudi and Israel Involved
The conflict has drawn in Iran's proxies and other nations. Saudi Arabia and the United States announced joint strikes on militant bases in Iraq, targeting facilities used by Iran-aligned groups. Saudi Arabia reported two days of drone attacks on its crude facilities, which it blamed on Iraqi armed groups allied with Tehran. Jordan’s army intercepted five Iranian missiles, preventing further damage. Meanwhile, Israel accused Hezbollah of a truce violation, stating that the group deployed a drone against an Israeli vehicle inside Lebanon. Israel called this "a blatant violation of the ceasefire." Israel fought alongside the US in earlier phases of the war against Iran but has not joined the latest round of strikes.
Casualties in Iraq: Hashed al-Shaabi Members Killed
In Iraq, the US-Saudi air operation targeted logistics and weapons sites belonging to an Iran-aligned group. Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi alliance, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), reported at least 20 of its members killed. Two Hashed officials said five Iranian advisors were among the dead, and coffins draped with Iranian flags were seen at the site. The alliance denounced the attacks as a dangerous escalation against an official security institution. The PMF was created in 2014 to fight jihadists and later integrated into the Iraqi military, but includes brigades loyal to Iran that often act independently.
