The US-Israeli war against Iran widened on its 12th day as Tehran launched what the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, called its “most violent and largest military operation” yet, firing Khorramshahr ballistic missiles at sites in Israel and US bases in the region after rejecting efforts to halt the fighting.
The strikes signaled a further escalation in a conflict that is now threatening both military targets and economic infrastructure across the region, while also raising pressure on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil routes.
The IRGC said the attacks, part of Operation True Promise 4, used precision-guided missiles with warheads weighing more than a ton, targeting US troops at Al Dhafra base in the UAE and Al Jufair base in Bahrain, as well as Israeli installations including Ramat David Air Base, missile launch platforms in Bnei Brak east of Tel Aviv, and the civilian airport in Haifa.
The IRGC also announced its 37th missile wave, which lasted more than three hours and used Kheibar, Qadr, and multi-warhead Khorramshahr missiles. It said the attacks would continue “with full resolve and force” until the “enemy’s complete surrender,” adding that the targets included Israeli military intelligence and Unit 8200.
According to Hebrew media, air raid sirens sounded across central Israel on Wednesday morning after the Israeli army warned of missile launches from Iran. No casualties were immediately reported.
Tehran also threatened to widen the conflict to economic targets. Khatam Al-Anbiya headquarters spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari said Iran had begun targeting US and Israeli economic and banking interests in the region in response to the bombing of an Iranian bank on Tuesday.
Zolfaqari said in remarks carried by Iran’s Mehr agency that “following their failed campaign, the terrorist US army and cruel Zionist regime have targeted one of the country’s banks.” He warned people in the region to stay 1,000 meters away from banks.
He said Iran’s target bank for striking US and Israeli military resources and infrastructure in the region was 10 times larger than the targets available to its “helpless enemies,” concluding the statement by saying that “security and stability in the region must either be for everyone or for no one.”
Separately, Reuters reported, citing unnamed security sources, that three ships were attacked by unidentified projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, causing fires and forcing crews to evacuate some vessels temporarily.
The strikes involved ships flying the flags of Thailand, Japan, and the Marshall Islands, with no casualties or major environmental damage confirmed. The attacks raised the number of ships hit in the Strait of Hormuz to at least 14 since the conflict erupted on Saturday before last.
The IRGC warned against any attempts to transit the Strait of Hormuz after earlier announcing it had taken control of it and closed it to shipping, increasing tensions in the region not only militarily but also economically and in food supplies.
US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that 10 Iranian boats and mine-laying vessels had been destroyed, “with more to follow.”
In an earlier post, Trump said, “If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before.”
US Central Command, CENTCOM, said several Iranian warships had been destroyed, including 16 mine-laying vessels, stressing that the US Navy would not allow Iran to control the Strait of Hormuz. CNN reported that the situation in the strait had been described as a “death valley” given the risks involved in transiting.
CNN also quoted unnamed sources familiar with US intelligence reports as saying the mining operations were not yet extensive, with only a few dozen mines laid in recent days. But one source said Iran still retained between 80% and 90% of its small boats and mine layers, allowing it to place hundreds of mines in the strait.
The United States and Israel launched their assault on Iran at the start of last week, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a number of Revolutionary Guard commanders. Tehran responded with a broad bombardment that included Tel Aviv, US bases, and US embassies in the Gulf and Middle Eastern countries.
The assault came while negotiations were underway that had begun on Feb. 6 through Omani mediation to explore the chances of reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, which the two allies are trying to end and prevent Tehran from completing.
The current operations are the second wave of US-Israeli strikes against Iran in a matter of months, after Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June, in which the United States joined by carrying out air strikes on Iran that it said were meant to deter Tehran from developing its nuclear program. Iran responded by firing missiles at the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar before Trump announced the war had ended by agreement.
