...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneouslytaking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet
militiasto extend the regime's influence. The word
Iranis a cognate form of
Aryan.The abbreviation
IRGCis the same idea as
Stürmabteilung (or SA).The term
Supreme Guideis a the modern version form of either
Duceor
Führeror maybe both. They hate
unveiled its first drone carrier, the Shahid Bagheri — designed to carry multiple squadrons of drones and operate helicopters — the U.S. military said it struck the vessel, which is now burning.
In a statement issued overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, the commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Adm. Brad Cooper, said American forces had sunk or destroyed more than 30 vessels during the campaign. He added that in the past several hours, U.S. forces had also struck an Iranian drone carrier roughly comparable in size to a World War II—era aircraft carrier.
Alongside footage of the strike, CENTCOM said U.S. forces were continuing their operations against Iran's navy without pause. The command said the Iranian drone carrier — described as roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier — had been hit and was currently on fire.
The Shahid Bagheri drone carrier is in fact a converted merchant ship that underwent extensive modifications. It features an angled runway about 180 meters (590 feet) long, allowing drones to take off and land. Images released in Tehran during its launch ceremony also showed helicopters positioned on the deck.
The vessel is about 240 meters (787 feet) long and, according to Iranian reports, can carry several squadrons of drones.
Reports in Iran say the ship can deploy up to 60 drones used for reconnaissance and attack missions. In addition to the aircraft on board, the Shahid Bagheri is reportedly equipped with air defense systems and anti-ship missiles, and carries dozens of fast attack boats.
These boats are used by Iran to carry out maritime attacks, either with personnel on board or as explosive-laden suicide vessels.
Beyond its offensive and defensive capabilities, the drone carrier also serves as a forward logistics base for the naval forces of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to Iranian reports, the vessel is equipped with intelligence-gathering and electronic warfare systems, and its interior facilities include a hospital and even a soccer field.
US, Israel hit over 3,000 targets across Iran since start of war
[Rudaw] Dozens of military, security, and judicial facilities across Tehran and other Iranian cities were targeted by the United States and Israel on Friday, as the war entered its seventh day.
The Israeli military said it has struck more than 400 targets across Iran since Sunday.
Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces targeted around 3,000 sites across Iran and in the country’s west (Rojhelat) during the first seven days of its campaign, dubbed Operation Epic Fury. Moreover, some 43 Iranian vessels were targeted at sea, CENTCOM added.
As in previous days, most of Friday’s attacks were concentrated in the Iranian capital and its surrounding areas.
Among the facilities struck in Tehran were the judiciary’s second administrative building, the court for civil servants and military personnel, the judiciary’s intelligence department, an anti-narcotics police center, two police stations, and a large Basij base near Azadi Square.
Other sites targeted in the Iranian capital included the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Imam Ali military base and Imam Hussein University in the Hakimiyeh district, a major military training facility. An area near Army Square in the capital was also hit.
Additionally, in Tehran province, a military base in the Bid Ganeh area of Malard was reportedly bombed. Another strike hit a target inside an industrial complex along the Tehran-Karaj road, while a military position in the town of Biset in Karaj was also targeted.
At around 5:30 am local time on Friday, the office of Iran’s supreme leader was reportedly struck again. Iranian officials have not yet commented on the claim. However, a Persian-language spokesperson for the Israeli military said Tel Aviv’s aircrafts took part in the strike, targeting a large underground shelter that he claimed had been used by senior Iranian officials following the assassination of Ali Khamenei.
Beyond Tehran, US and Israeli forces carried out strikes on multiple targets across several Iranian provinces using aircraft, missiles, and drones.
In southern Iran, several sites were bombed near the naval town of Bandar Abbas early Friday.
In Bandar Lengeh in Hormozgan province, an IRGC military position and two large fuel depots near the airport were also targeted.
In Khuzestan province, several sites in the city of Ahvaz were struck on Friday night. Other reported targets included the Rostamabad area of Ramhormoz, the army’s 92nd Armored Division base and other security installations in Ahvaz, the Wahdat Air Base in Dezful, and a Revolutionary Guards command center in Andimeshk.
Mashhad airport in northeastern Iran was also reportedly struck on Friday afternoon.
In East Azerbaijan province, several military sites were targeted, including an army ammunition depot at a barracks in Ajab Shir and an IRGC command center in Malkan.
In northern Iran, four security and military bases were reportedly hit by missiles in the city of Rezvanshahr. At least two military targets were also struck in the central city of Rasht.
In Sistan and Baluchestan province, the Imam Ali military base in the port city of Chabahar was reportedly bombed again.
In the southern city of Bushehr, another drone strike targeted a Revolutionary Guards air defense system.
In Isfahan province, an Iranian army air base and a specialized missile launcher site in Shahrood were bombed on Friday. Iranian media reported that several explosions were heard near Natanz early Saturday morning, where a nuclear facility and an Iranian air defense base are located.
In Shiraz, in Fars province, a missile reportedly struck an IRGC air defense system base.
Two military bases were also bombed in the city of Qom. The provincial governor said the bases were located outside the city and were targeted by drones. However, footage released by the Red Crescent appeared to show rescue operations following a strike inside the city.
The Israeli military said late Friday that it had struck more than 400 targets across Iran, including missile launch sites and drone manufacturing and storage facilities, adding that the operations would continue.