US Strikes IRGC Infrastructure in Iran, Escalating Tensions

US on Thursday carried out a fresh wave of strikes targeting the command-and-control infrastructure of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), further escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. According to Reuters, air defence activity was reported in Robat Karim city in Tehran province. Multiple media reports suggested that an IRGC command-and-control centre in the city was among the targets hit in the US operation. The United States described the attacks as "self-defense strikes" against multiple targets across Iran. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes targeted Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defence sites. "US Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy assets fired precision munitions on Iranian targets that posed a threat to US forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters," CENTCOM said. Reuters reported that Iranian news agencies recorded explosions in several cities across the country, including Sirik, Kargan, Bandar Abbas and Minab in the southern province of Hormozgan. Strikes were also reported in Varamin and Karaj near Tehran. The latest attacks came a day after the US launched another round of strikes against Iranian military infrastructure after Washington accused Tehran of downing a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. Following Wednesday's strikes, US President Donald Trump warned Iran in a social media post, saying: "Iran is all talk and no action, They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!"