U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced early Thursday that American forces have begun striking Iran, with operations commencing at 20:00 U.S. Eastern Time (03:00 Jerusalem). The strikes are a direct response to Iranian attacks on U.S. military personnel in the Middle East yesterday, according to the statement.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed early Thursday that American forces initiated strikes against Iran at 20:00 U.S. Eastern Time (03:00 Jerusalem time), specifying the exact start time of the operation. The strikes were described as a direct response to Iranian attacks on U.S. military personnel in the Middle East that occurred the previous day. This confirmation follows a series of increasingly official statements that began with a senior U.S. official reporting that strikes were underway at 02:13 Jerusalem time.
The initial report at 02:13 Jerusalem time came from a senior U.S. official, followed by reports from Axios and additional U.S. officials confirming airstrikes inside Iran. By 02:13, the U.S. Army had officially announced the commencement of strikes, and CENTCOM followed with its own confirmation, initially describing the operation as a 'powerful response.' At 03:29 Jerusalem time, The Zioneer published a bulletin citing the U.S. Army's confirmation of the strikes as retaliation for attacks on personnel. The latest CENTCOM statement adds the specific timing in Eastern Time, providing the same operational timeline from a different time zone reference.
The strikes are part of a sustained U.S. air campaign against Iranian military infrastructure that began in late June 2026, following a series of Iranian provocations including attacks on commercial shipping and U.S. assets. As The Zioneer reported on July 23, the campaign had reached its 12th consecutive night at that time. The broader context includes a U.S. deployment of approximately 50,000 troops in the region and a naval blockade in the Persian Gulf, as documented in previous reports.
Specific targets and the scope of the current wave of strikes have not been detailed in the initial CENTCOM statement. No information has been provided on casualties or damage assessments. The operation is ongoing, and further updates are expected.
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