It is yet another night of escalation, following continued US air strikes and the latest statement from US Central Command.
On the Iranian side, reports emerged less than an hour ago of explosions in Sirik, a strategically important city overlooking the Strait of Hormuz. Sirik has faced sustained attacks since the US campaign targeting Iran’s southern coast began.
There had been a few hours of relatively less intense strikes, but reports of explosions are now emerging again. Over the past two or three nights, the scope of the US attacks has widened across southern Iran, including Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island and areas near the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Ahvaz and Bushehr.
Iranian reports say the strikes have targeted not only military sites but have also affected some residential areas.
Iran, meanwhile, says it will maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz and retaliate against US military assets across the region. Both the Iranian army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said they targeted US military facilities in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain overnight.
Iranian military officials have warned that continued US attacks will bring stronger retaliatory strikes and could drag the conflict beyond the region.
An adviser to Iran’s supreme leader also warned recently of the consequences of the war expanding beyond national borders, raising the risk of an even broader escalation.