Iranian state media outlets have reported multiple explosions across the southern coastal cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, signalling the onset of a fresh round of U.S. military strikes.
State news agencies Fars and Mehr reported that, at around 11:15 PM on Wednesday, July 8, several detonations shook Bandar Abbas and Sirik County. According to these reports, a number of the explosions originated from the sea and were concentrated along the western coastline of Sirik.
Concurrently, the Vahid Online Telegram channel cited local eyewitnesses reporting parallel strikes targeting facilities in Chabahar and Konarak. Fars News Agency added that coastal air defence systems in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island were actively engaging hostile targets in the skies.
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) released an official statement confirming the launch of the new wave of operations, noting that the strikes were executed under the direct orders of the U.S. President as Commander-in-Chief.
Excerpt from the CENTCOM statement: “At the direction of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Central Command forces have initiated additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their capability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”
