USA Launches Fresh Attacks on Iran, Breaking Ceasefire Again

Three explosions reported east of Bandar Abbas. Iranian air defences activated. An IRGC-linked journalist says the airbase runway has been hit.

The U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler (Shutterstock)

At approximately 01:30 local time, three explosions were heard east of Bandar Abbas, according to Iran’s Fars News. Bandar Abbas air defences were activated for several minutes. An IRGC-linked journalist says the airbase in the port city had been struck. Sources on the ground informed us that they had heard the sound of fighter jets coinciding with the sound of explosions.

A U.S. official briefed the Faytuks Network at 01:54 that the USA had carried out a "defense operation" in Bandar Abbas, adding that "the US will act to safeguard its regional interests, and this does not affect the ceasefire." Reuters, citing a U.S. official, reported that the U.S. military had carried out new strikes in Iran against a military site said to pose a threat to U.S. forces and commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, and that U.S. forces had also intercepted drones launched in retaliation from Iran. The language from the U.S. officials is near-identical to the script U.S. officials ran after the May 25 ceasefire violations.

Open-source flight-tracking data logged significant U.S. military air activity over the UAE and Persian Gulf at the same time, including a USAF E-3B Sentry AWACS (callsign ANDOR52), KC-46A aerial refuelling tankers, and a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

Two days ago, U.S. Central Command struck missile launch sites and boats near Bandar Abbas, framed by U.S. officials as defensive. Tonight, by every available indication, the USA has done it again, while Iranian negotiators sit in Doha for talks the USA itself is party to.

There are separate reports of air defences activating in Isfahan in Iran, however these remain unconfirmed at the time of writing.

This story is developing and will be updated as further verification arrives.

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