On July 23, the United States conducted airstrikes against Iran for the 13th consecutive night. Attacks targeted military facilities around the Strait of Hormuz and extended into southwestern Iran, resulting in casualties.
The U.S. Central Command announced that the strikes began at 6:45 p.m. Eastern Time and concluded around 9 p.m., lasting approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Targets included Iranian military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, and coastal surveillance bases. The Central Command described the operation as aimed at reducing threats posed by Iran to civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The Central Command asserted that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and that commercial shipping continues. It also stated that more than 50,000 U.S. troops are currently deployed across the Middle East.
Following the airstrikes, a series of explosions were reported in southern Iran, particularly around Hormozgan Province. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that power lines were damaged in the major port city of Bandar Abbas, causing outages in some areas, and that two people were injured.
Explosions, believed to be from missile attacks, were also reported on Qeshm Island, a key energy and logistics hub at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Iranian state news agency IRNA, four people were killed and five injured in missile strikes on the outskirts of Ahvaz in Khuzestan Province. Explosions were also reported in nearby Andimeshk and Omidiyeh. The extent of the damage and specific locations of the strikes have not been independently verified.
This round of airstrikes comes as President Donald Trump indicated he is considering a larger-scale attack against Iran. In an interview with Axios, Trump stated, "I am considering a larger-scale attack than ever before," adding that a decision is imminent and military preparations are complete. However, U.S. officials noted that no final decision has been made or new operational orders issued.
Trump warned that if the Iran-backed Houthi militia attacks commercial vessels again, both the Houthis and Iran will be held accountable.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.