President Trump said late Wednesday that the US strikes on Iran are retaliation for Iranian attacks on ships the previous day, warning that if the pattern repeats, the US response will be 'much harsher.' An American official separately told media that the current strikes are defensive in nature but the military is preparing for a possible shift to offensive operations, according to reports.
An American official told Al Arabiya early Thursday that the current US strikes on Iran are defensive in nature, but the military is preparing for a possible shift to offensive operations and remains on standby. The statement, published at 00:36 Jerusalem, comes minutes after President Trump's late-night declaration at 19:17 Jerusalem that the strikes are retaliation for Iranian attacks on ships and his warning of a 'much harsher' response if repeated. The official's comments underscore the fluid nature of the campaign, which has seen multiple waves of strikes across southern Iran.
The thread began Wednesday evening with unverified reports of explosions in several locations, including Hormozgan, Chabahar, and Sirik. By 19:17 Jerusalem, US officials confirmed that the strikes were being conducted under Trump's orders, and Trump himself stated that the operation was payback for the previous day's ship attacks. The sequence shows a rapid escalation from initial blast reports to explicit presidential authorization and now to a signal of potential offensive operations.
The development follows earlier signals from the administration, as The Zioneer reported earlier this week: Defense Secretary Hegseth warned of 'deeper' strikes and Trump hinted at reinstating a naval blockade. The ongoing campaign has targeted Iranian air defense and radar systems around the Strait of Hormuz, as confirmed by US officials.
It remains unclear whether the military will actually shift to offensive operations, and the Pentagon has not commented on the operation's duration or scope. Iranian authorities have not yet responded to the official's statement.
15 developments
- StrongUS official: Ceasefire with Iran halted; strikes targeted missiles that could threaten American assets
- DevelopingUS strikes prioritize Strait of Hormuz freedom of navigation, sources say
- DevelopingTrump: Iran 'foolishly' violated ceasefire with drone strike on ships in Strait of Hormuz
- StrongTrump says Iran struck a merchant ship in the Strait of Hormuz, US intercepted three drones
Source and signal
- Internal intake