The US military is conducting heavy strikes in southern Iran, with reports of numerous aerial refueling aircraft active over the region. The operation, part of the ongoing US air campaign against Iranian military infrastructure, continues with sustained bombardment, according to unverified reports.
The US military is now conducting heavy strikes in southern Iran with numerous aerial refueling aircraft active over the region, according to unverified reports. The development, reported at 01:47 Jerusalem, follows a night of sustained US operations. At 00:07 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that the strikes had been ongoing for over an hour, with a series of attacks targeting Bandar Abbas, including the 9th Tactical Airbase, Shahid Rajaei Port, and IRGC Navy sites on Qeshm and Sirik islands. By 01:42 Jerusalem, The Zioneer confirmed the strikes were still in progress past the one-hour mark.
The thread of reports began with local reports of smoke columns at the Bandar Abbas airbase at 00:07 Jerusalem, followed by reports of a strike on the base, then strikes at the port. Security analyst Yair Goldblatt's assessments and footage from Iranian opposition sources corroborated the attacks. The source quality evolved from unverified local reports to multiple analyst and newsroom citations. The latest development adds the presence of numerous aerial refuelers, though the specific mission is unconfirmed.
The strikes are part of the broader US air campaign, which The Zioneer has reported as Operation Epic Fury, targeting Iranian military infrastructure. The Zioneer previously reported on a second wave of strikes in southern Iran and on large US aerial refueling activity over the Middle East during the campaign.
The reports remain unverified, with no comment from Iranian state media. The extent of damage and casualties is unknown. The presence of multiple refuelers suggests extended combat air patrols or continued strike operations, but this is not confirmed.
16 developments
- DevelopingIranian media reports three injured in latest US strikes
- DevelopingAmerican strikes on Iran have ended, Iranian sources say
- StrongIranian Foreign Ministry says US diplomacy damaged after strikes
- StrongSource: Overnight US strikes hit newly-built Iranian targets, including surveillance and drone storage
Source and signal
- Internal intake