U.S. Strikes Iran for 12th Consecutive Day; Iran Claims Hit on U.S. THAAD System

As the United States carries out airstrikes against Iran for the 12th consecutive day, Iran claims it has attacked and destroyed U.S. military equipment in Jordan, further escalating the armed conflict between the two sides.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on the 22nd (local time) that it completed additional airstrikes against Iran at 10:30 p.m. that day, Eastern Time.

The U.S. military initiated the airstrikes at 5:30 p.m. and wrapped up the operation in about five hours.

CENTCOM explained that it targeted Iranian military assets, including naval assets, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance facilities, and air defense assets, adding that the strikes have further diminished Iran's capability to attack civilian crews and merchant vessels.

According to the U.S. daily The New York Times (NYT) and Iranian state media, explosions were heard in Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran, and U.S. missiles reportedly struck the outskirts of Ramsir, located about 80 kilometers south of Ahvaz.

Explosions were also reported in Sirik, Hormozgan Province, near the Strait of Hormuz, and near Bushehr in the south.

CENTCOM also confirmed that more than 50,000 U.S. troops are conducting operations throughout the Middle East.

CENTCOM stated that it has resumed a naval blockade of Iran this month while simultaneously striking dozens of land-based military facilities.

It further explained that up to today, it has rerouted nine merchant vessels and disabled one to prevent ships from entering and leaving Iranian ports.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media Truth Social the previous day, threatening, "From this point forward, every time the Islamic Republic of Iran attacks a ship in the Strait of Hormuz with missiles, rockets, drones, or any other device or weapon, we will bomb and destroy one (Iranian) bridge or power plant."

He also raised the level of warning by stating that bridges and power plants in and around Tehran could also become targets for bombing.

In fact, the targets of U.S. airstrikes appear to be expanding to areas surrounding the Iranian capital of Tehran.

Germany's dpa news agency reported the previous day that air defense systems were activated in the skies over Tehran and explosions were heard in the northeastern part of Tehran.

Iran also claimed that it launched retaliatory attacks targeting U.S. military facilities in the region.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that it launched another airstrike on a U.S. military base inside Jordanian territory as a retaliatory measure against the U.S. military.

In particular, the Revolutionary Guard claimed that the targets included the U.S. military's core interception system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) radar, the Patriot air defense system, C-RAM radar, and helicopter hangars.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also responded on social media, writing, "Our defense principle is clear: an eye for an eye."

Minister Araghchi emphasized, "Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will be met with a strong and resolute response," adding, "Those who contribute to such aggression, by providing any kind of support, will also be regarded as legitimate targets."

(Photo provided by U.S. Central Command, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.