BBC News, Arabic Go to content Main Watch Listen Main sections News Economy Health and Science Culture and Arts World Cup 2026 Investigations News Economy Health and Science Culture and Arts World Cup 2026 Investigations Activation of air defenses in Tehran and explosions in the north and west of the country, Trump says "Iran will be defeated soon" Photo source, Reuters
Iranian state media reported on Thursday hearing the sounds of air defenses responding to targets in parts of the capital Tehran, while explosions echoed in the north and west of the country.
The official Iranian news agency (IRNA) stated that "so far, no official parties have reported any casualties in Tehran," noting explosions were also heard in parts of Lorestan province in western Iran and Semnan province in the north of the country.
This comes a day after the United States announced the expansion of its military operations against Iran amid escalating confrontations between the two sides. U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that Iran "strongly desires" to reach a settlement with the United States, confirming that Washington would decide whether to take this step or not.
Trump added, during statements made in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, that Iran "will be defeated soon," without providing further details, coinciding with ongoing exchanges of strikes between the two countries.
The U.S. military announced on Wednesday evening a series of new strikes on Iran, indicating that they aim to limit Tehran's ability to "threaten" ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated in a statement: "At 3 PM Eastern Time (19:00 UTC), U.S. forces began operations including a second wave of strikes against Iran today. These strikes target Iranian military capabilities used to threaten ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz."
In this context, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on Wednesday hearing explosions in Bandar Abbas city in southern Iran, before announcing that U.S. projectiles hit a site near the city.
Conversely, the Kuwaiti army announced on Thursday that its air defenses are responding to "hostile" drone attacks originating from Iran, while sirens were activated in Bahrain following renewed U.S. strikes on the Islamic Republic.
The Kuwaiti army stated in a statement on X, "Kuwait's air defenses are currently responding to hostile drone attacks due to the vile Iranian aggression," while the Ministry of Interior in Bahrain urged citizens and residents to "remain calm and head to the nearest safe place."
The Iranian army also announced on Thursday that it targeted U.S. military facilities in Jordan, according to Iranian state media reports.
The United States had targeted Iran on Wednesday, which responded by shelling targets in neighboring countries, as the rate of mutual shelling escalated, raising fears of a return to war in the Middle East as it was in the past, and the expiration of the ceasefire agreement.
Since the resumption of mutual strikes, more than 30 civilians have reportedly been killed according to Tehran.
In response, the Islamic Republic targeted U.S. facilities again in Gulf countries.
This page contains content from X. Your consent is required before displaying any materials as they may include tracking files (cookies) and other technical tools. You may prefer to review X's cookie policy and privacy policy before consenting. To display the content, select "Consent and Continue"
A detailed explanation of the main events and topics is worth noting, to help you understand the most significant changes around you and their impact on your life.
The Commander of the IRGC Navy, Ali Azmaei, vowed on Wednesday to continue Tehran's strategy of keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed, threatening to launch further attacks on what he described as the "aggressive enemy."
Azmaei stated in a post on the X platform that Iran, in response to the commands of the General Commander, will continue to close the strait and deal "the harshest blows" to what he described as the "aggressive enemy."
These statements by the IRGC Navy Commander come as U.S. forces increased pressure on Iran by conducting a second wave of strikes targeting military capabilities that Washington claims are being…