US strikes Iran for 13th night as Trump mulls escalation

United States military finished its 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iran as President Donald Trump revealed he is considering a “massive attack”.

Trump said Tehran has not “received enough pain yet” and noted that he is nearing a final choice to restart major military operations. Following these developments, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that “mindless aggression” will only force Trump to pay a “heavier price” for a deal to settle the war.

The most recent strikes occurred at 1 GMT on Thursday, during which US Central Command (CENTCOM) targeted “Iranian military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites, and maritime capabilities”.

CENTCOM added that these operations serve to protect civilian mariners and commercial ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian threats.

Despite recent actions from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the US military confirmed that the international waterway remains open for traffic with the assistance of over 50,000 US service members currently stationed across the Middle East.

The tension has extended to the UK, which placed its armed forces on standby for national defense after the IRGC issued a warning regarding US bombers utilizing British bases.

Reports from Iranian news agencies and state broadcasters detailed various explosions and missile strikes in cities including Tehran, Jask, Konarak, Khorramabad, and Khondab.

A US missile strike near the southwestern city of Ahvaz killed four individuals and injured five others, according to local officials in Khuzestan province. In the Lorestan province, a drone attack on Khorramabad injured two people.

While air defense activity was recorded over eastern Tehran, state broadcaster IRIB reported that two projectiles hit an area outside the city of Khondab. Explosions also rocked the port of Jask on the Strait of Hormuz and the city of Konarak.

Source: Al Jazeera (adapted)