"Swift Retaliation": U.S. Airstrikes Hit Key Iranian Locations, Including Qeshm Island

U.S. airstrikes have hit several Iranian ports located in the Strait of Hormuz.

In particular, Qeshm Island, a key hub for energy logistics, was struck by at least six missiles.

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that explosions were heard around Qeshm Island in Hormozgan Province and the major port city of Bandar Abbas at approximately 4:00 a.m. today (July 19).

The exact cause and location of the explosions have not been immediately confirmed.

Tasnim News Agency, which represents the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that the U.S. attack on Qeshm Island occurred around 3:40 a.m.

Earlier, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the port city of Sirik, located near the Strait of Hormuz, was attacked.

Subsequently, at around 2:10 a.m., the inland city of Khajabad was also struck by U.S. forces.

Sirik and Khajabad are small cities located approximately 100 km away from Bandar Abbas, respectively.

Iranian authorities have not yet officially announced specific casualties or infrastructure damage resulting from these airstrikes.

The U.S. Central Command stated that it has launched new airstrikes against Iran under the direction of Commander-in-Chief President Donald Trump.

This marks the eighth consecutive day of nighttime airstrikes conducted by the U.S. military against Iran.

Central Command explained that the objective is to further weaken Iran's ability to threaten merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

In particular, it made clear the retaliatory nature of the strikes, stating they are intended to swiftly punish the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for attacking U.S. service members in Jordan.

Previously, Central Command reported that two U.S. soldiers stationed in Jordan were killed and one was missing following a ballistic missile and drone attack by Iran.

Separately, a base of the Kurdistan Freedom Party near Erbil in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq was also hit by a drone attack early this morning.

Eight members were injured in the attack, and local residents told foreign media that they heard explosions along with the activation of air defense systems.

Erbil has been struck by multiple drone attacks over the past four days.

While the perpetrator of this drone attack has not yet been clearly identified, the possibility that it was carried out by Iran or Iranian-backed armed groups has been raised.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.