US-Israel strike Iran: Explosion heard in port city of Chabahar

Explosions were heard in Iran’s port city of Chabahar, amid the escalating tension in the Middle East, after US-Israel launched joint operations and strikes across Iran. Citing Iranian state media, Reuters said, an explosion has been heard in the country’s southeastern city. The United States and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran early Saturday, with blasts reported in Tehran and other cities, in what marks a sharp escalation in already heightened Middle East tensions.In response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks, firing a barrage of missiles and drones at Israel and targeting US military installations in the region, including the US Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

According to Iranian media cited by the AP, one of the initial strikes appeared to hit near the offices of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz was the first to acknowledge the operation, followed by US President Donald Trump, who said Washington had initiated “major combat operations in Iran.” Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it had launched a “first wave” of drones and missiles aimed at Israel. Explosions were reported in northern Israel as air defence systems engaged incoming projectiles, and sirens were heard in Jordan. There were no immediate reports of casualties.Amid the escalating exchanges, several countries in the region closed their airspace, and US embassies urged American citizens to shelter in place.