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Explosions reported in northwestern Iran’s Tabriz, as well as capital Tehran and southern regions.
Published On 21 Jul 2026
The United States military has conducted its eleventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran, with explosions reported in the northwestern city of Tabriz and other regions.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the strikes began at 7 pm Eastern Time (2300 GMT) on Tuesday, emphasizing their objective to disrupt Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
If verified, the strikes in Tabriz would represent a significant shift, as prior attacks had primarily targeted southern Iran and areas near the strategically critical waterway. Air defense activity was reported in northeastern Tehran, while explosions were also noted near the southern city of Sirik. Additionally, Iran’s Tasnim news agency documented detonations in Bushehr, a southern provincial capital.
The escalation follows the collapse of a June 17 memorandum of understanding between the two nations, reigniting tensions over control of the Gulf’s vital shipping lanes. Earlier Tuesday, Kuwaiti forces intercepted an Iranian drone attack amid ongoing regional hostilities, which Iran has extended to targets including Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar since mid-July.
