In a defiant show of force, Iran’s IRGC on Wednesday kicked off the 17th round of assaults on key US and Israeli sites, firing off 40 missiles at Israel in reprisal for prior hostilities. Ground forces spearheaded three extensive campaigns, as per statements relayed through local media channels.
Under the banner of Operation True Promise 4’s latest iteration, the IRGC revealed deploying more than 230 drones against US facilities in disputed areas right after enemy incursions. Specific mentions included heavy drone swarms on bases in Erbil and Kuwait, marking a tactical surge in Iran’s counteroffensive.
A centerpiece of the claims: devastating hits on a prominent US air base in Bahrain, where critical command infrastructure was obliterated. Tehran framed these actions as lawful under UN Charter Article 51, defending against ‘acts of aggression’ from Washington and Tel Aviv.
Compounding the military fervor, the Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as his successor. The move followed Saturday’s deadly joint US-Israel bombings that killed Khamenei and elite commanders. With full assemblies unfeasible in wartime, virtual deliberations and IRGC sway sealed the choice, per insider accounts.
This dynastic shift is mired in controversy, arriving hot on the heels of the attacks that have roiled the Middle East. Tehranites will commence three days of public mourning from Wednesday midnight IST at the Grand Musalla, honoring Khamenei’s legacy amid escalating strife. Iran’s dual pivot—military retaliation and leadership renewal—portends a hardened stance in the brewing storm.