The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has completed an additional round of strikes against Iran at 10 pm ET, July 14, hitting dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian coastal areas. US fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels launched precision munitions against Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, and coastal defence systems during the seven-hour wave to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews.
Air raid sirens were sounded in Kuwait as a fresh round of Shahed drones targetted in retaliation. As per IRGC, satellite communication centre, missile and air defence radar, Patriot air defence complex, US military base ammunition depot, and HIMARS missile launch platforms in Kuwait were destroyed. Hangars of F-15, 16, and 35 fighter jets, along with several American MQ-9 drones, at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan were smashed to pieces.
Besides, the IRGCs navy and air force claimed they destroyed weapons and equipment storage facilities at Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Air Base and an MQ-9 drone deployment area at Kuwait’s Al-Salem Air Base. Air raid alert sounded on Wednesday, the interior ministry said.
At the Strait, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has threatened to halt all energy exports from the Middle East over the US reimposing a naval blockade on the strategic water ways. It said that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed “until the end of America’s evils.” In a statement, the IRGC said that the US military hit Iranian bases “under the pretext of hitting offending ships”, referring to the vessels attempting to transit the critical waterway, “to hide its defeat and inability”. However, the IRGC noted that “no ship dared to violate [the Iranian blockade] or accompany the US”. Therefore, “naturally there were no hits,” the statement notes, local media reports.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has warned that American forces will expand their military campaign against Iran next week by targeting the country’s power plants and bridges unless Tehran agrees to negotiate. Interacting with a media agency, he said ,”Trump said the next phase of military action would focus on key infrastructure if Iran refused to come to the negotiating table.”