US Allegedly Strikes Communication Towers and Military Bases in Iran
Iran has stated that communication towers in Kerman Province were among the targets of the latest American attacks on Sunday (12/7), amid escalating conflict between the two nations. According to a report by Iranian news site Entekhab, the communication tower was located in a highland area in the south of Kerman Province. Several Iranian officials described the attack as part of the latest military operation launched by the US.
Elsewhere, the Deputy Governor for Political, Security, and Social Affairs of Lorestan Province, Saeed Pourali, said US forces carried out two airstrikes overnight in the outskirts of Veysian. "Conditions have now returned to normal," Pourali said, as quoted by state television station IRIB. He added that there were no casualties in the attack.
Meanwhile, the state news agency IRNA reported that a military base in the city of Khondab, western Iran, was also hit by enemy projectiles. Citing a senior local official, the attack occurred on Sunday morning and authorities are still evaluating the extent of the damage and possible casualties.
According to Iranian reports, the series of attacks is part of a third wave of US military operations targeting radar, missile, and drone facilities in several southern regions of Iran. The escalation occurred after Iran fired upon commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and announced the closure of the strategic shipping lane until further notice. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) previously stated that one crew member was reported missing in the incident.
On the other hand, Iran claimed to have launched retaliatory attacks against a number of US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Oman. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates stated it successfully intercepted and responded to missile and drone attacks launched by Iran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officially announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for an unspecified period. US President Donald Trump contacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss US military operations in the Gulf. Netanyahu also raised the issue of Turkey. Tensions between the US and Iran have increased after the two countries exchanged attacks. A total of 14 people were killed in Iran and ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has dropped drastically. Global oil prices have soared past US$80 per barrel after the conflict between the United States and Iran heated up again.