Tehran Warns Against Targeting 'Mount Afs' as US Strikes Intensify

SadaNews - On Wednesday, Iran warned that any US strike targeting the "Mount Afs" nuclear facility near Natanz would expand the scope of the war, as US forces continued their airstrikes inside the country for the eleventh consecutive night, amid an exchange of attacks that extended to Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

The warning came after US President Donald Trump stated that US forces might target the underground nuclear complex known as "Mount Afs" "very soon", located near the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.

The Iranian state television quoted the central operations room of the armed forces as saying that targeting the site would be considered an expansion of the war, threatening to strike US interests, allies, and supporters.

Trump had stated from the Oval Office that Washington had not completed its operations in Iran and that a withdrawal at this stage would give Tehran the opportunity to rebuild its capabilities. He added that Iran might need about 20 to 25 years to recover from the damages it had incurred, emphasizing that the United States "will not leave now."

The US Central Command announced the conclusion of another night of strikes, stating that the operations targeted aircraft hangars, drone storage sites, and military logistics infrastructure, as part of its efforts to weaken Iranian capabilities used in attacking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

US Strikes Extend Deep into Iran

The official news agency "IRNA" reported explosions being heard in the provinces of Ahvaz, Bushehr, Hormozgan, and Baluchistan on the southern coast, as well as in East Azerbaijan in the northwest of the country and Hamedan in the west. Iranian television announced the activation of air defenses in western, eastern, and northeastern Tehran.

"IRNA" reported that a local official stated that three areas in Bushehr province had been attacked, including a power station near the nuclear facility in the city. Iranian authorities did not announce any damage to the nuclear facility itself.

The "Fars" news agency, affiliated with the "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps", reported that residents in Tehran heard explosions during the early hours of Wednesday, coinciding with the activity of air defenses over the capital.

An Iranian Health Ministry official stated that the recent US strikes resulted in the deaths of 50 civilians and injuries to about 500 others. It was not possible to independently verify this toll.

Iranian Regional Attacks

In response, Iranian forces announced that they had launched missile and drone attacks on what they claimed were US military sites in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

The Iranian army stated that it targeted buildings and equipment storage facilities at the Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, then attacked warehouses and aircraft maintenance hangars at the Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain using "Arash" drones.

The Kuwaiti army announced that its air defenses intercepted drone attacks originating from Iran, while Bahrain stated it had intercepted Iranian attacks following the activation of alarm sirens. Jordan also confirmed intercepting missiles and drones.

Alarm sirens sounded in the Jordanian city of Aqaba, and Israeli officials stated that Iranian missiles targeted Jordan. Video recordings taken from the nearby city of Eilat showed columns of smoke in the skies above Aqaba.

Iranian state media reported a statement from the "Revolutionary Guard" claiming that the attacks targeted air defense systems, radar, and administrative facilities, threatening further waves of missile and drone strikes.

This wave of attacks followed the killing of four US servicemen in attacks that occurred in recent days in Jordan and Iraq, raising the US military death toll since the war began on February 28 to 18 servicemen.

Trump stated that US forces intercepted most of the projectiles targeting their positions, but acknowledged that some penetrated defenses in Jordan. He vowed that Iran would pay "many times" for every US soldier killed.

Escalation in the Strait of Hormuz

The strikes coincided with ongoing confrontations in the Strait of Hormuz after a tanker was attacked on Tuesday, forcing its crew to evacuate.

The British Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that an "unidentified projectile" struck a tanker off the coast of Oman, while the "Revolutionary Guard" announced the interception of two oil tankers attempting to cross the strait unlawfully, following extensive fires on board.

The US Central Command stated that its recent strikes target Iranian capabilities used to threaten maritime traffic, as control over the strait becomes a major focus in the renewed war.

The escalation in the Strait of Hormuz coincided with Houthi threats in Yemen to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and target ships that defy what they described as a maritime blockade.

Trump warned that the United States would deal with the Houthis if they attempted to carry out their threat, stating that Bab el-Mandeb had not been closed yet and that Washington would respond if it happened.

Monitoring companies reported that several tankers altered their course in the Red Sea after the threat was issued, indicating the war's influence expanding from the Strait of Hormuz to the maritime corridor at the entrance to the Red Sea.