US expands airstrikes on southern Iran as Israel prepares for possible Hezbollah response

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Sunday that American fighter jets conducted a series of airstrikes targeting Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, and drone storage facilities. The operation was launched in direct retaliation for a one-way attack drone strike on the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku, which was transiting the Strait of Hormuz with over two million barrels of crude oil early Saturday morning. According to CENTCOM, Iran was given an opportunity to honor existing ceasefire frameworks following previous strikes but elected to escalate its aggression against commercial shipping.

Reports from Iranian media indicated explosions near Tahrouyi village in the Sirik area and on Qeshm Island, with additional strikes reported in Bandar Lengeh. U.S. officials characterized this wave of strikes as larger than previous engagements, intended to signal that further escalation will meet additional military action. Flight tracking data showed multiple U.S. refueling tankers airborne from bases in Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia to support the ongoing operations over southern Iran.

Israeli Readiness and Lebanon Withdrawal

While the U.S. focuses on the maritime threat in the Persian Gulf, Israel is managing a volatile transition in the north. Security sources indicate that the IDF is preparing for potential Hezbollah attacks within the coming days. This assessment comes as Israel moves forward with a framework agreement that includes a planned withdrawal from two experimental zones in the Nabatieh area—specifically the villages of Zawtar al-Gharbiya and Frun.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has emphasized that the agreement serves as a message to Tehran that its regional influence is being curtailed. However, defense officials warn that Hezbollah "will not sit idly by" during the implementation of the new security arrangements. To manage this transition, an American-Lebanese-Israeli coordination team is expected to begin work early next week to define agreed regions and establish a formal withdrawal timetable. The commander of U.S. Central Command is also expected to visit the northern region to review the initial operational steps of the IDF's withdrawal.