A US official told Reuters that the recent American strikes on Iran were carried out to thwart threats, according to a report. The statement provides a new rationale for the multi-wave operation.
A US official told Reuters on Tuesday evening that the recent American strikes on Iran were carried out to thwart threats, offering a new, broader rationale for the multi-wave operation. The statement, reported at 21:58 Jerusalem, comes as the US military continues its campaign across southern Iran, and follows hours of diplomatic and military developments.
Earlier tonight at 19:17 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that a US official confirmed strikes on military targets in Iran, and that the operation began less than two hours before President Trump's siege deadline. Within the same hour, additional reports indicated that the Mount Hamakosh nuclear facility had been added to the target list, and that the airstrike campaign was expanding. The sequence moved from unverified claims of infrastructure attacks to official confirmation of an ongoing operation.
As The Zioneer reported on June 11, a security analyst assessed that the strikes aim to clear military installations in southern Iran to lay the groundwork for potential ground forces. On July 10, a US official revealed that Washington is conducting alternating rounds of strikes and pauses to allow diplomacy, holding an extensive target bank as a bargaining chip. These reports highlight the dual military and diplomatic tracks of the campaign.
The specific threats that prompted the new justification have not been detailed. It remains unverified whether the nuclear facility has been struck, and no independent casualty or damage assessments have been released.
6 developments
- ConfirmedUS official to CNN: Strikes on Iran were a warning, unlikely to harm negotiations
- StrongAxios: US strikes on Iran designed to pressure Tehran into nuclear deal, risk escalation
- DevelopingUS strikes aim to build option for ground forces in southern Iran, analyst says
- DevelopingUS struck Iran overnight, Tehran issued false claim of retaliation, analysis argues
Source and signal
- Internal intake