In the early hours of Sunday morning local time, the United States launched a series of coordinated airstrikes against multiple high-value military targets inside Iran, in what officials described as a "measured and strategic response" to recent Iranian-backed attacks on US assets and allies in the region. The operation, which was authorized by the President following closed-door security meetings with military leaders and intelligence chiefs, reportedly targeted radar stations, missile storage facilities, and command centers near Tehran, Isfahan, and the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas.
Iranian state media acknowledged the explosions but accused Washington of committing “an act of war,” vowing a “strong and decisive retaliation.” Eyewitnesses in Tehran described hearing loud booms around 3:20 a.m., followed by plumes of smoke rising from the outskirts of the city. Videos circulating online showed flashes lighting up the night sky and emergency services rushing to affected areas.
Pentagon sources claimed that all targets were selected to minimize civilian casualties and avoid triggering a broader conflict. However, Iranian officials stated that several civilians were among the dead and wounded, including families living near a military logistics base in Isfahan. The exact casualty count remains unclear.
The strikes come after months of growing hostilities, including recent drone attacks on US military bases in Iraq and Syria, and reports of ballistic missile shipments moving across the Iranian border. US intelligence had reportedly tracked increased military coordination between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and proxy militias operating in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, prompting urgent warnings from Israeli and European intelligence services.
In a televised address shortly after the strikes, the US President defended the decision, stating, “We will not tolerate threats to our personnel, our partners, or global stability. These actions were taken to degrade Iran’s capacity to carry out further attacks—not to start a war.”
Markets responded sharply, with oil prices spiking by over 5% within hours and international flights rerouting away from Iranian airspace. The United Nations has called for an emergency session, urging restraint on all sides, while Russia and China condemned the US strikes as “destabilizing” and demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Meanwhile, on the ground in Iran, the mood is tense. Social media platforms are flooded with unverified reports of retaliatory mobilizations, power outages, and sporadic clashes near military installations. Iranian hardliners have renewed calls to expel Western diplomats, and pro-regime rallies are being organized in major cities.
The world watches anxiously as the risk of escalation looms. Whether this strike remains a tactical one-off or sparks a wider regional conflict will likely depend on Tehran’s next move.