After two nights of American bombardments and Iranian retaliatory attacks in Gulf states, the escalation continued Thursday afternoon. After launches toward Bahrain and explosions in Kuwait, sirens were heard in Jordan for the first time in a long period.
The U.S. Embassy in Jordan issued an alert to its staff, saying that according to reports, “missiles, drones, or rockets are in Jordanian airspace.” Staff were instructed: “Seek overhead cover and shelter in place immediately. Remain indoors and pay attention to local announcements and alerts.”
Air raid sirens in Jordan
According to an Iranian report, missiles were aimed at the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and at the port area in Kuwait, as well as at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.
At the same time, Iranian media reported a strike near the Bushehr nuclear power plant and explosions in the area following U.S. attacks. Explosions were also reported in Kerman, in south-central Iran. Meanwhile, reports said a U.S. warship and American military vessels in the Persian Gulf had been attacked by Iran, but there was no confirmation.
Over the past two days, more than 170 Iranian targets have been struck by the United States, 90 overnight and 80 the previous night. Iran said 14 people were killed and 78 wounded in the attacks. A security official told ynet before the sirens in Jordan that Israel’s assessment was that the confrontation would not spill over into Israel.
In a statement released Thursday morning, the U.S. military said the targets included air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities and military logistics infrastructure along Iran’s coastline. The overnight strike was effectively the most extensive American attack in Iran since the end of the war this year.
For the first time since April, the United States also struck bridges. Iranian media reported that a strategic railway bridge used for trade with Russia and China was struck by cruise missiles. Fars said that through the Aq Tappeh Khan bridge, on the China-Turkmenistan-Iran railway corridor, Russia had been moving goods since November last year. It claimed that after the naval blockade on Iran, freight train traffic from China along the route tripled.
Two of the bridges struck lead to Mashhad, and as a result train traffic between Tehran and the city was halted. Mashhad is where the funeral ceremony for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the opening day of Operation Lion’s Roar, is being held Thursday.
In response to the American bombardments, Iran already attacked U.S. bases in the Gulf overnight, saying that among other targets, drones struck Patriot systems in Kuwait, fuel depots belonging to the U.S. military in Bahrain and early-warning sites in Qatar, which is mediating the negotiations.
“The forces will continue with full force to prevent the realization of the goals and ambitions of the president of the United States, and will defend the ideals of the Islamic Revolution until final victory,” Iran threatened.