Iran launched a barrage of missiles at a trio of US allies in the Middle East early Thursday after American forces carried out a second round of airstrikes in response to Tehran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.”
Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait were targeted by the Islamic Republic, as happened a day earlier after an initial wave of US attacks.
Kuwait closed its airspace for several hours, but did not elaborate on any damage. Jordan said it intercepted 20 Iranian missiles fired toward an area that is home to a base hosting US troops, though no one was hurt.
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said an 11-year-old girl was hurt and cars and homes were damaged by debris from interceptions responding to the Iranian attack.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that their strikes, which lasted approximately four hours and ended shortly before dawn broke across Iran, targeted the theocratic regime’s “military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defense sites.”
There was no immediate word on specific targets or damage done by the US attacks, but explosions could be heard around the capital city of Tehran, as well as the port city of Bandar Abbas and other southern areas along the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard later said sites hit included a manufacturing complex, a military barracks and a local Guard base outside of Tehran.
President Trump claimed in an interview with Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst that took place during the ongoing strikes that 49 Tomahawk missiles were launched at targets inside Iran, while American fighter jets took out radar and air defense systems around the Persian Gulf.
Trump also claimed that Iranian officials had directly asked him to stop the bombing while he was monitoring the operation in the White House Situation Room and vowed to “bomb the s— out of them tomorrow night” if Tehran did not agree to a US peace proposal.
The president suggested earlier this week that an agreement with Iran could be close — but the exchanges of fire have called that into question, and big differences remain.
The US wants Iran to give up its stockpile of nearly 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium, which is believed to be buried underground after the American military hit three nuclear sites last year.
Iran is refusing to give up the uranium and demanding relief from sanctions. It also wants the release of frozen assets even before a final agreement is in place, something Trump rejected.
Iran has insisted that any deal to end the war must also end fighting between its ally Hezbollah and Israel, a demand Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected
A Qatari diplomatic delegation, negotiating in coordination with the US, left Tehran on Thursday morning after holding talks, according to an official with knowledge of the team who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the mediation.
Pakistan, meanwhile, expressed deep concern over rising tensions and urged both Iran and the US to adhere to the cease-fire, which has been in effect since April 8 and which Trump described to Yingst Wednesday night as “the most violated cease-fire in the history of the world.”
With Post wires
