The United States launched strikes on Iran for a ninth consecutive night, targeting military capabilities in cities including Tabriz and Chabahar. The escalation follows the collapse of a month-old ceasefire and a struggle for control over the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian media and the US military.
By Monday, US strikes had reached the far north and far south of Iran. According to Al Jazeera, the US military is focusing on degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz
.
Strikes in Tabriz, Chabahar and Southern Ports
Iranian media reported explosions in several southern coastal cities, specifically Sirik and Jask in the Hormozgan province, and Khvormuj in the Bushehr province. The IRIB state broadcaster also reported explosions in the southwestern Khuzestan province, specifically in the port cities of Imam Khomeini and Mahshahr.
Three explosions were heard near Tabriz in the northwest, while air defenses were activated in the southeastern cities of Chabahar and Konarak within the Sistan and Baluchestan province, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi noted that the explosions in Tabriz, if confirmed, mark the first time the northwestern city has come under attack since the recent escalation began.
For more on this story, see US Military Conducts Ninth Night of Airstrikes Against Iranian Infrastructure.
The Strait of Hormuz and Naval Blockades
Washington says it is enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports, and Tehran says it targets vessels violating its rules on navigating the Strait of Hormuz.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that four vessels had attempted to transit the strait via an unsafe route
with US backing after ignoring IRGC warnings. It said two had abandoned the attempt, while the other two were involved in an accident
. It did not elaborate. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it has redirected six commercial vessels and disabled another ship to ensure full compliance
with its blockade.
This follows our earlier report, US Launches Ninth Night of Airstrikes Against Iran as Oil Prices Climb.
Regional Spillover in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain
Earlier, Kuwait reported confronting hostile drone threats
, while air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain for a second time on Sunday. Sirens also sounded in Jordan, where the military said it shot down three Iranian missiles. Kuwait’s government said a desalination plant had been attacked for the second day running on Sunday, causing a fire.
Read also: US Strikes Iran for Ninth Night to Degrade Military Capabilities.
Casualties and the Failed Ceasefire
The US military announced the death of a third soldier in recent days. These losses coincide with the unraveling of a month-old ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington.
Tehran promises retaliation, with Iranian media reporting a new wave of missiles from the province of Lorestan targeting US military assets across the region.
Sources: Aljazeera.
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