Washington, DC – The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States launched precision airstrikes against Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites on Thursday morning in direct response to Tehran’s missile attack on US forces in Jordan. While the strikes were more extensive than previous US operations, the newspaper quoted a US official who asserted that this action did not signify a return to large-scale military operations or an all-out war. However, the strikes did dash hopes for an immediate diplomatic breakthrough between the two countries.
Washington’s stance and the implications of limited strikes
The US military described the raids as a “decisive response” to the Iranian attack on Tuesday, and the field operations came just hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to respond forcefully to any targeting of his forces.
Widespread targeting and tremors in Khuzestan
In the field context resulting from these developments, the provinces of Khuzestan, Hormozgan and Fars in southern Iran witnessed a series of successive and widespread attacks and explosions, following intensive air and missile strikes carried out by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) targeting dozens of sites and vital infrastructure of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
In Khuzestan province, official reports and eyewitness accounts indicated that several cities were targeted by missile attacks on Thursday morning. The deputy head of security and law enforcement in the Khuzestan governor’s office announced that areas surrounding the cities of Shadegan, Arvandkenar, Abadan, and Ahvaz were directly targeted. Residents reported hearing four to five powerful explosions that shook the center of Ahvaz and its surrounding areas, accompanied by tremors and the sight of flames. Official authorities have launched a preliminary investigation to determine the extent of the damage and casualties.
Hormozgan explosions and situation assessments in Qeshm and Kish
In Hormozgan and Fars provinces, loud and successive explosions were heard on the islands of Qeshm and Kish, as well as in the cities of Bandar Abbas and Kazerun. The deputy governor of Hormozgan confirmed that the Qeshm region was targeted in a US military attack, while the Tasnim news agency reported that a missile landed near a residential area in Qeshm, causing a temporary power outage that technical teams quickly restored. On the civilian front, the Kish Free Zone Organization announced that no damage had been reported in urban or residential areas, confirming that air traffic and navigation were operating normally. Authorities denied any explosions in Sirik County, while awaiting further official assessments.
Military target bank and state of maximum alert
In conclusion, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that its operations focused on destroying military command and control centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal defense and surveillance sites, and Iranian naval capabilities, simultaneously keeping more than 50,000 American soldiers in the Middle East on high alert.
