New wave of US strikes, Iran's response: situation in Middle East

Lead

The United States and Iran have exchanged new rounds of military strikes this week, escalating tensions across the Middle East. US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported completing a third round of strikes against Iran, hitting approximately 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday, according to a statement carried by the Jerusalem Post. The strikes, which targeted missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks, and coastal surveillance locations, came in response to an attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has retaliated with strikes on US facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, while Iran's Parliament Speaker declared that the era of 'one-sided deals' is over.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the conflict differs in scope and detail across the two outlets whose coverage was reviewed. The Jerusalem Post, drawing on CENTCOM statements and Iranian officials, emphasizes Iran's political response, particularly the statement from Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The outlet reports that US forces completed a third round of strikes, hitting approximately 140 targets, and that Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz after firing a warning shot that struck a vessel on an unapproved route. It also cites the IRGC's claim of a heavy attack on US aircraft carrier support and refueling platforms in the port of Duqm, Oman.

TASS's English-language service, in two separate articles, provides additional details, including the US military's attack on more than 60 small boats used by the IRGC and strikes on 85 US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait. TASS also reports that the Iranian army struck a US Patriot air defense system in Kuwait and that commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to a minimum. Both TASS articles frame the US strikes as retaliation for Iranian attacks on vessels, and both cite official sources, including CENTCOM and Iranian state media.

Key Claims

The following are among the key claims reported by the sources:

• US strikes on Iran: US Central Command reported completing a third round of strikes against Iran, hitting approximately 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. TASS, citing CENTCOM, reported that US military forces completed a new series of strikes hitting more than 80 targets. Over three nights of strikes, US forces struck more than 300 targets, according to a CENTCOM statement cited by the Jerusalem Post.

• IRGC retaliation: The IRGC Navy and Aerospace Force launched strikes against 85 US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, according to a statement quoted by Fars news agency and reported by TASS. The Jerusalem Post cites the IRGC as saying its aerospace forces carried out a heavy attack on US aircraft carrier support and refueling platforms in the port of Duqm, Oman. TASS also reports that the Iranian army struck a US Patriot air defense system in Kuwait, and that Iran struck an early warning radar complex in Qatar and fuel tanks at a US military base in Bahrain.

• Iranian political statements: Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on Twitter/X, saying: "The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking," as reported by the Jerusalem Post. TASS, citing Fars news agency, reports that Ghalibaf accused the United States of serious violations of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, adding that "The era of bullying and extortion is over." Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that the US attack on Iran violated Points 1 and 2 of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, according to TASS.

• Strait of Hormuz: Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz after firing a warning shot that struck a vessel traveling on an unapproved route, according to the Jerusalem Post. TASS reports that commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to a minimum, though CENTCOM stated that "Commercial vessel transits through the vital international maritime corridor continue," as cited by the Jerusalem Post.

• International reaction: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the latest US strikes on Iran as 'absolutely necessary', according to TASS.