WASHINGTON — The United States completed a heavy wave of airstrikes against Iranian military targets, the U.S. military said on Thursday, describing the operation as a response to an attempted Iranian missile attack on American forces in the Middle East a day earlier.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation lasted about two hours and struck dozens of targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance sites and maritime defense infrastructure. The military said the strikes were intended to reduce Iran's ability to threaten U.S. forces, commercial shipping and regional partners.
President Donald Trump had earlier pledged a forceful response after U.S. officials said Iranian forces launched ballistic missiles toward American military installations, including bases in Jordan. U.S. officials said the missiles were intercepted and no U.S. casualties were immediately reported.
Iranian authorities had not immediately issued a comprehensive official assessment of the damage or reported casualty figures. Reuters could not independently verify the extent of the strikes or their impact.
The latest operation marks a further escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran, which has expanded in recent months following repeated exchanges of military action across the region. Diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions have so far failed to halt the fighting.
The situation remained fluid on Thursday, with both military and diplomatic developments continuing to emerge. Officials said additional details were still being verified.
