US and Israel bomb Iran for fourth day as Trump says air defences ‘gone’
US and Israel bomb Iran for fourth day as Trump says air defences ‘gone’
The United States and Israel have launched air strikes targeting locations throughout Iran on the fourth consecutive day, with President Donald Trump asserting that the country’s air defences, military infrastructure, and leadership have been “eliminated.” Israeli forces reported attacks on the presidential office, a hidden nuclear site, and a Revolutionary Guards commander in Tehran, while U.S. military operations focused on command hubs, missile installations, and airbases. Iranian officials have not yet issued public statements, though reports of explosions have emerged across the nation.
Since the initial strikes, Iran has retaliated by deploying drones and missiles against Israeli positions and U.S. military bases in the Gulf. A drone attack targeted a parking area near the U.S. consulate in Dubai, igniting a fire, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Earlier that day, two drones struck the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, causing minor damage. These strikes followed a joint U.S.-Israeli operation that began on Saturday, during which Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking officials were reportedly killed.
Trump’s Claims and Strategic Objectives
At a White House press briefing, Trump declared that the strikes had “significantly weakened” Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, naval forces, and nuclear development potential. He also emphasized the goal of “regaining control” of Iran’s regional influence by targeting its proxy groups. “We’ve struck a decisive blow,” he stated. “Their missile count is dropping, and their command structure is in disarray.”
“Most of the people we had in mind are dead,” the president added when asked about the future of Iran’s leadership. “We’ve had a very powerful impact. Virtually everything they had is now compromised.”
Trump reiterated that 49 Iranian leaders were eliminated during the first wave of attacks and hinted at additional strikes against “new leadership” without specifying details. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) later confirmed an air strike in Tehran that killed Daoud Alizadeh, the interim commander of the Lebanon Corps within the IRGC’s Quds Force. Alizadeh had previously directed Hezbollah to escalate attacks on Israel.
Iranian Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
The IDF has intensified operations in Lebanon, where Hezbollah had launched rockets and drones over the border. Strikes on Tehran’s outskirts reportedly damaged a covert compound linked to the defense ministry, where scientists were allegedly working on nuclear capabilities. The IAEA confirmed satellite imagery showing “recent damage” to the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant’s entrance buildings but noted no radiological impact. The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) stated no radioactive material was released during the attack.
Natanz, a key site for uranium enrichment, was previously damaged in a U.S. strike during the June 2024 conflict with Israel. Uranium enriched at the facility could be used for both reactor fuel and nuclear weapons, though neither the U.S. nor Israel has claimed responsibility for recent strikes on the site.
Satellite images released by Vantor revealed extensive damage to the presidential office and other critical facilities, including the judiciary complex, intelligence ministry, and IRGC headquarters. These images underscore the scale of the strikes, which have disrupted Iran’s operational command and control systems. Despite the attacks, Iran has maintained that its nuclear program remains peaceful and defensive in nature.
