Amidst the ongoing dispute between the United States and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, southern Iran has been hit by extensive U.S. airstrikes.

Following the attacks on key port cities and islands where military facilities are concentrated, the Iranian military is reportedly preparing for a large-scale retaliatory strike targeting U.S. military bases across the Middle East.

According to Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency, a series of explosions were heard across various locations in southern Iran, near the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, on July 8 (local time).

Multiple powerful explosions were reported in Bandar Abbas, a port city in central southern Iran located in the heart of the Strait of Hormuz, and on the island of Sirik, situated near the eastern exit of the strait.

Bandar Abbas serves as the headquarters for the Navy of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which commands the high-speed boats, mine-laying vessels, and anti-ship missiles that control the Strait of Hormuz.

Sirik Island is reportedly home to a high concentration of the Revolutionary Guard's coastal missile bases.

During the U.S. airstrikes, explosions were also heard in the waters adjacent to the western coast of Sirik.

Reports also indicated that several loud explosions occurred in Chabahar, a port city in southeastern Iran along the Gulf of Oman.

Chabahar is a key strategic port for Iran and serves as an economic and military hub housing bases for the Revolutionary Guard.

Fars News Agency reported that it has not yet been determined whether these explosions were caused by U.S. airstrikes or occurred during the activation of Iran's air defense systems and subsequent exchanges of fire.


According to Iran's state-run Nour News, power supplies have been cut off in some areas of Chabahar.

Nour News also reported that multiple explosions were heard in Bushehr, in southwestern Iran, and that anti-aircraft batteries were engaging hostile targets.

Bushehr, located on the Persian Gulf, is a critical site housing Iran's only nuclear power plant and a naval base for the Revolutionary Guard.

Iranian media reported that there are no visible signs of damage to the Bushehr nuclear power plant at this time.

The Iranian military is reportedly planning further retaliation to hold the U.S. accountable for these airstrikes.

A military source told Nour News, "In addition to the engagement of our integrated air defense network against hostile targets, our missile and drone units will launch a large-scale, comprehensive attack on terrorist U.S. bases in the Middle East within minutes."

An Iranian military official warned, "Every U.S. base that served as a staging ground for the aggression against our southern regions tonight, or that supported this aggression, will be subject to powerful missile and drone attacks by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran without exception."

The United States and Iran have fallen into another cycle of military conflict following tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. military launched airstrikes on several strongholds in southern Iran yesterday, holding the country responsible after Iran attacked a merchant vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz outside of designated routes for control purposes.

In retaliation, Iran launched missiles and drones targeting U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, leading the U.S. to conduct a series of bombings in the southern region today in further retaliation.

(Photo: Screenshot from President Trump's Truth Social, Yonhap News)