US Expands Airstrikes in Iran... Explosions Reported at Missile Bases

Explosions Heard Across Inland Iran
U.S. Forces Open Fire on the Oil Tanker Belmaho
Iran Vows to "Devastate All Regional Infrastructure"

The United States is ramping up pressure on Iran by expanding the range of its airstrikes beyond Iran's southern coastline to areas outside the capital Tehran and further inland. In response, Iran has pledged retaliatory strikes and threatened to devastate regional infrastructure.

According to Iran's IRNA news agency and other sources on July 16 (local time), powerful explosions were heard several times throughout the night in inland areas including Khorramabad in Lorestan Province in central-western Iran, Khondab in Markazi Province, and in Semnan Province in the north.

These cities are home to key ballistic missile production facilities and space program sites in Iran. Local officials identified U.S. military attacks as the cause of the explosions. An official from Semnan Province confirmed, "The Semnan Provincial Airport was attacked by the United States."

Around the same time, air defense systems were activated in Parchin, located about 30 kilometers southeast of Tehran. Parchin is considered a critical military stronghold suspected to contain missile development and production facilities, as well as nuclear installations. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that there had been no attacks in Parchin, and explained that the activation of the air defense system was meant as a precautionary readiness check.

Until now, U.S. forces have attacked the southern and southwestern coastlines of Iran near the Strait of Hormuz, but it is possible that the airstrike range has now been expanded to Iran's interior as well.

The U.S. military opened fire on the oil tanker Belmaho, which was registered in Curaçao and heading toward Kharg Island, a major Iranian crude oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf. A U.S. military aircraft launched a missile at the ship's funnel.

Iran responded to the United States with military retaliation and a stern warning. In the early hours of the day, Iran carried out missile and drone attacks targeting Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, where U.S. forces are stationed.

There was also a nighttime drone strike targeting Erbil in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who is currently visiting the United States, condemned this action in strong terms.

The Iranian military responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's warning regarding strikes on bridges and power stations, stating that "we will attack any remaining infrastructure in the Middle East," and adding, "Our response will be even harsher, broader, and more destructive than previous attacks."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.