US Launches Seventh Consecutive Night of Strikes on Iran; Explosions Reported in Bandar Abbas, Sirik

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN, July 17: The United States launched a fresh wave of military strikes against Iran on Friday, marking the seventh consecutive night of attacks aimed at degrading Tehran's military capabilities, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

CENTCOM said the latest operation began at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (10:00 p.m. Kuwait time) and was carried out under the orders of the commander-in-chief as part of the ongoing military campaign against Iranian targets.

"The strikes are intended to further degrade Iran's military capabilities," CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X, without providing details on the specific locations targeted or the extent of the damage.

Meanwhile, Iranian media reported explosions in multiple locations in the country's south as the strikes unfolded.

Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency said explosions were heard in Sirik, a coastal city in Hormozgan province overlooking the Gulf of Oman.

Separately, Iranian media also reported multiple explosions in the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas, home to major naval and military facilities on the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian authorities have not yet released an official assessment of casualties or damage resulting from the latest strikes.

The latest attacks come amid an intensifying military confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with both sides continuing to exchange strikes as tensions across the region remain at their highest level in years.