U.S. Central Command announced Thursday morning it completed a 'heavy wave of strikes' in Iran, hitting dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets including command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites. The command said all ballistic missiles launched by Iran overnight were intercepted, and that over 50,000 U.S. troops are now deployed in the Middle East.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed early Thursday morning that all ballistic missiles launched by Iran overnight were intercepted during the heavy wave of strikes that concluded at approximately 05:00 Jerusalem time. The operation, described by CENTCOM as a 'heavy wave of strikes,' targeted dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites. The confirmation came after earlier reports that the strikes had begun at 03:00 Jerusalem time, with CENTCOM later stating the start time was 05:00 Jerusalem. The barrage of Iranian missiles was launched in an apparent attempt to strike American forces in the region, with CENTCOM characterizing the launch as a 'surprise attack.'
The strikes mark the end of a six-day pause in the U.S. air campaign, which began in mid-July following an attack on U.S. service members in Jordan. The thread of reports from The Zioneer shows that initial confirmations of the strike wave came at 02:13 Jerusalem time, with CENTCOM first announcing the initiation of strikes at 03:00 Jerusalem, then later detailing the target set. The operation represents the most intense U.S. action against Iran in the sustained campaign, with CENTCOM now maintaining a deployment of over 50,000 troops in the region. The Iranian missile attack on July 28, which triggered the new wave, was itself a response to ongoing U.S. operations.
As The Zioneer reported on July 19, the campaign has included multiple consecutive nights of strikes, with an eighth consecutive night targeting Iranian maritime capabilities and missile storage. The current operation is the first since the pause and reflects the high operational tempo of the U.S. military in the region. The scale of the strikes and the successful interception of the Iranian retaliatory salvo underscore the intensity of the direct U.S.-Iran confrontation.
What remains open is the extent of damage to Iranian military infrastructure and any potential Iranian response to the latest U.S. strikes. CENTCOM has not released detailed battle damage assessments, and no independent confirmation of the scope of the attacks has been provided.
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