THE United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced the start of a new wave of military strikes against Iran, marking the ninth consecutive night of operations amid rapidly escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the latest operation was under way and would continue to target Iran's military capabilities as part of what it described as an ongoing campaign to counter threats to commercial shipping and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
The command, however, did not disclose the locations of the targets, the military assets deployed or the extent of any damage and casualties.
Shortly after CENTCOM's announcement, multiple explosions were reported across at least five Iranian cities, including the north-western city of Tabriz, the south-eastern port cities of Chabahar and Konarak, and the south-western energy hubs of Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini.
Iranian news agency Tasnim, citing witnesses and local journalists, reported hearing the explosions, although there was no immediate confirmation regarding the causes of the blasts or the scale of the damage.
A separate explosion was also reported in the south-western city of Abadan, home to one of Iran's largest oil refineries near the Iraqi border and the northern coast of the Gulf.
Iran's state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), confirmed the explosion but did not provide details on its cause or whether there were any casualties.
Iranian authorities have yet to issue further statements on whether the incident was linked to energy infrastructure or the ongoing military escalation.
Meanwhile, Jordan's armed forces said they intercepted three missiles launched by Iran towards its territory after air raid sirens sounded in several parts of the country.
According to a military statement carried by Jordan's state news agency Petra, a fourth missile crashed in a remote area without causing casualties or property damage.
Earlier, Anadolu Agency reported that warning sirens had sounded across several locations in Jordan, while witnesses said explosions were heard over the airspace near the Red Sea city of Aqaba.
The latest developments come as tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States continue to intensify, fuelling concerns that the conflict could expand into a broader regional confrontation across the Middle East. - July 20, 2026
