Explosions in Iran as US launches new strikes

DEVELOPING STORY,

The United States military has launched an eleventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran, with explosions reported in northwestern Iran’s Tabriz region.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that the strikes began at 7 pm Eastern Time (2300 GMT) on Tuesday.

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“The strikes are designed to continue degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said.

An attack on Tabriz, if confirmed, would mark a departure from the general trend of the strikes in the latest round of attacks, which have largely focused on southern Iran and the area around the Strait of Hormuz.

Residents of northeastern Tehran have also reported hearing air defence activity, the Fars news agency reported, adding that several explisions had also been heard around Sirik in southern Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported explosions being heard in parts of Bushehr, also in southern Iran.

The US and Iran are competing for control of the vital waterway in the Gulf, with attacks resuming following the breakdown of a June 17 memorandum of understanding agreed between the two sides.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Kuwaiti army said that its air defences were intercepting an Iranian drone attack.

Iran has repeatedly attacked Gulf countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, since the resumption of US attacks this month.