The United States military has claimed its forces have successfully neutralised command and control facilities belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), alongside air defence installations, as the joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran entered its fourth day.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the Middle East, stated on Tuesday that it also destroyed missile and drone launch sites, reports Al Jazeera.
Although CENTCOM provided no immediate evidence to support these assertions, it posted on X that it would “continue to take decisive action against imminent threats posed by the Iranian regime”. On Monday, the command reported that US forces had hit over 1,250 targets within Iran and destroyed 11 Iranian vessels.
Simultaneously, the Israeli Air Force has conducted extensive operations across the Iranian capital, Tehran, targeting air defence systems, radar sites, and ballistic missile launch platforms.
Residents reported hearing explosions throughout the night and into Tuesday morning, with strikes also reportedly hitting Iran’s state television.
On a separate front, the Israeli military initiated simultaneous strikes on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, targeting positions allegedly linked to Hezbollah. This follows air strikes on Monday in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs that resulted in at least 52 deaths and 154 injuries, according to state-run media.
The conflict has triggered significant retaliatory measures and casualties across the region. The IRGC has declared that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz is now “closed”. In Riyadh, Saudi authorities reported minor damage to the US Embassy following a strike by two drones.
CENTCOM confirmed that six US service members have been killed to date, all during Iranian retaliatory strikes on Kuwait over the weekend. In a separate incident, Kuwaiti forces accidentally shot down three US F-15E fighter jets during an Iranian attack; however, all six crew members successfully ejected and were recovered safely.
Within Iran, the ISNA agency reported that five members of the IRGC’s air force and navy were killed in strikes on the cities of Jam and Dir in Bushehr province. Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed to have launched a drone swarm at dawn on Tuesday against the Ramat David Airbase in northern Israel, targeting radar installations and control rooms.
United Nations officials have expressed profound concern regarding the escalating violence and the targeting of civilian infrastructure. Iranian officials stated that an attack on a primary school in Minab resulted in the deaths of at least 165 schoolgirls and staff, while nine hospitals across the country have reportedly sustained serious damage.
Vanessa Frazier and Najat Maalla M’jid, UN special representatives, issued a joint statement demanding an immediate end to hostilities and strict adherence to international humanitarian law, emphasising that “schools and hospitals must not be attacked”.
Extended conflict Despite international calls for restraint, the war appears unlikely to conclude in the near term. US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that Washington possesses “the capability to go far longer” than the initial four-to-five-week window projected for military operations against Iran.
