US Launches 13th Night of Strikes on Iran Following Trump Warning

The United States military launched air strikes against target sites across Iran for a thirteenth consecutive night, central command officials confirmed on Friday morning, following explicit warnings from US President Donald Trump regarding an intensification of military operations.

According to a formal statement released by US Central Command (CENTCOM), the latest wave of targeted bombardments struck key strategic installations. These included military command centres, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage facilities, telecommunication networks, coastal surveillance posts, and infrastructure linked to Iran’s naval capabilities.

CENTCOM asserted that the targeted operations were executed to hold Tehran accountable and to neutralise operational threats posed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to commercial shipping lanes in the region. Washington further stated that despite recent maritime incidents, the Strait of Hormuz remains open to international navigation, with commercial vessels transiting under the protection of American forces.

However, Iranian state-affiliated media provided a stark contrast to Washington’s narrative, reporting significant civilian and structural casualties across multiple provinces:

• Khuzestan Province: Local authorities in the south-western city of Ahvaz confirmed that at least four people were killed and five others injured following a precision missile strike nearby. Further detonations were reported in the strategic towns of Andimeshk and Omidiyeh.

• Qeshm Island & Bandar Abbas: Explosions were registered on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, whilst Iranian news agencies reported that at least two civilians sustained injuries when a missile struck a residential sector in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

The IRGC disputed Washington’s claims regarding maritime supremacy, reiterating that control over the Strait of Hormuz remains firmly under Iranian jurisdiction. The paramilitary force maintained that safe passage through the vital choke-point can only be ensured in coordination with Tehran.

This military escalation follows declarations from President Donald Trump, who indicated in a recent interview that he is contemplating ordering the largest military offensive against Iran to date. The American threat comes amidst retaliatory strikes by Iranian-backed forces against US allies in the Persian Gulf, including a recent strike targeting a telecommunications structure in Kuwait.