America Bombs Iran for a Ninth Night as Tabriz Is Hit
US forces completed a ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iran, with explosions reported from the Gulf ports of Sirik and Jask to Chabahar and, for the first time in the campaign, the north-western city of Tabriz. Central Command said it had targeted command centres, air defences and missile and drone launch sites. Iranian authorities reported at least 50 people killed and more than 500 wounded, and the American military death toll has now reached seventeen.
The month-old ceasefire is now openly dead, with Washington recasting the campaign from retaliation to systematically preventing Tehran from rebuilding the infrastructure it uses to threaten Hormuz shipping. Tabriz, home to missile and space facilities, was struck because it is believed to have launched the missiles that killed American troops in Jordan. President Trump said the United States had “hit them very hard again tonight”, doing so “in honour of” the servicemen killed. With the death toll at a level long treated as a red line, some analysts warn a ground operation may be nearing. Watch whether a tenth night follows and whether the strikes push further north.