Shortly before a two-week ceasefire agreement was reached between the US and Iran to allow diplomacy to seek a peaceful resolution to the military conflict, the Revolutionary Guards managed to send one last message of power to the Americans and Israelis. In their 100th wave of attacks, the Guards sowed chaos across at least 25 strategic US and Israeli targets in the broader Middle East and Persian Gulf region, forcing the aircraft carriers USS Tripoli and USS Stennis to retreat in disarray toward calmer waters in the Indian Ocean.
An unprecedented epic
In their official announcement, the Revolutionary Guards praised the Iranian people for the fortitude shown during these 40 days of war. "Your devoted and impressive presence for 40 nights in the streets of the Islamic Iranian homeland has created a historic and unprecedented epic, bringing unique honor to the history of this ancient land and the new world. You have simultaneously demonstrated sincerity, jihad, self-sacrifice, and scientific understanding, accompanied by unity and love for the leadership. Your children in the Guards and the Basij, with God's help and your support, responded last night to the enemy's provocations, executing the 100th phase of Operation True Promise 4, attacking over 25 strategic targets, including 13 energy complexes and oil pipelines related to the US and Israel."
Attacks from the Mediterranean to the Arabian Peninsula
"In this operation, dedicated to our martyred leader Ayatollah al-Uzma Imam Khamenei, the fighters of the Guards' Space Service struck American and Israeli enemies from the shores of the Mediterranean to the East of the Hijaz Peninsula, so the enemy understands that attacking the infrastructure of the Iranian people carries a heavy price," the IRGC emphasized.
Refineries and oil infrastructure targeted
According to the Revolutionary Guards, the 100th wave utilized ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and attack drones against the following targets:
-
Chevron refinery and oil facilities at Ras al-Ju’iyah, Saudi Arabia, the largest NLG facility and energy supplier to the US.
-
Oil and chemical facilities of ExxonMobil and Dow Chemical in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
-
American oil facilities in Yanbu, Red Sea coast, with a production of 250,000 barrels per day.
-
US facilities in Habshan – the oil pipeline from Dubai to Fujairah used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
-
Major ExxonMobil oil facilities at Ras Laffan, Qatar, with a production of 146,000 barrels per day.
-
Significant BAPCO oil facilities in Bahrain, with a production of 267,000 barrels per day.
-
American refinery at Das in the UAE, processing 60,000 barrels of crude daily.
-
US oil facilities in Fujairah with a 1,000,000 cubic meter storage tank.
-
Al Ahmadi refinery, Kuwait, producing 346,000 barrels per day.
-
American gas company Dolphin Gas, Qatar, with an export capacity of 2 billion cubic feet/day.
-
"Unterberg" oil island with a production of 750,000 barrels of crude/day.
-
American company Satrope – a refinery of 460.000 barrels/day, a fuel source for power plants.
-
American refinery Manifa Gas, with a separation capacity of 900,000 barrels/day.
-
Denaer technology and advanced industry centers in Beersheba, southern Palestine.
-
Military and security intelligence centers at the Azrael and Almas towers, Jerusalem.
-
US Central Command in the region at Al-Azraq, Jordan.
-
Ben Gurion Airport, Jaffa, Jerusalem.
-
Haifa refinery, Jerusalem, with a production of 300,000 barrels/day.
-
Israeli military government complex in the capital, the seat of command and control.
New humiliation for the US
Simultaneously, the Guards' Navy struck the following targets:
-
USS Tripoli (LHA7), struck by cruise missiles, withdrawn to the Indian Ocean after damage and fire on the deck.
-
USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), struck by drones, withdrawn to the Indian Ocean following damage.
-
Israeli drone factory in the UAE.
-
Oil facilities with US investment in LSB, Kuwait.
-
US base at Ali Al-Salam, Kuwait.
We remain with our fingers on the trigger
"The faithful Guards of the Iranian people remain ready under the instructions of Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with their fingers on the trigger, prepared to create even greater epics in the event of a new mistake by the enemy. The American partners have seen the weakness of the US and Israel with their own eyes and must learn their lesson and end their cooperation with the enemies of Islam. The enemy always deceives, and there is no trust in its promises; every attack will be met at a higher level," stated the IRGC.
Message from Iran: We attacked Kuwait and the UAE after the Lavan strike
In a further show of force, Iran announced that following the ceasefire agreement, it indeed launched missile and drone attacks on Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates after air strikes on oil facilities on Lavan Island Wednesday morning. "Missile and drone attacks took place in the Emirates and Kuwait hours after the attack on the oil facilities of Lavan Island in Iran," reported the Iranian state television IRIB. The broadcaster also cited the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company, which stated that the Lavan oil refinery facility "was subjected to a cowardly attack" at 10 a.m. local time.
Velayati: Overwhelming response to any strategic error by the US or Israel
Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Mojtaba Khamenei, argued that Iran is no longer just a country but acts as the central pole of the Islamic world, noting that the US was forced to accept the ceasefire, which is an indication of a clear strategic defeat. Furthermore, he maintained that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are at the highest level of readiness and will give a decisive response to any strategic error by the Hebrew-Arab-American alliance in case of a truce violation.
Pezeshkian: We continue together
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also sent a message of national unity. "The ceasefire, with the acceptance of the general principles pursued by Iran, is the result of the blood of our martyred leader Khamenei al-Uzma and an achievement of the presence of all citizens on the scene. From today onward, we will continue to stay together. In the field of diplomacy, in the field of defense, in the streets, and in the service of the people. Our unity is victory," the Iranian president stated.
Message from Hezbollah: We are on the verge of a historic victory
Equally triumphant is the spirit of Hezbollah, which in an announcement to the people of Lebanon declared that today it stands on the verge of a great historic victory. "To the most honorable people... To the patient and steadfast people of the Resistance... Today, we are on the verge of a great historic victory, which will be realized thanks to the sacrifices of the fighters and the blood of the martyrs. In this critical phase, we call on you to remain more patient and to wait; before the official announcement of the ceasefire in Lebanon, do not visit the villages and target areas in the South, in Beirut, and in the southern suburbs, as this treacherous and savage enemy may resort to deceptive efforts to show he achieved something he failed to do on the battlefield."
Israeli provocation: 100 targets hit in 10 minutes in Beirut and Lebanon
While Israel insists that Lebanon is not included in the US-Iran ceasefire agreement—a claim denied by Pakistan, which mediated the negotiations—the Israeli Air Force announced it completed its largest wave of air strikes against Hezbollah since the start of the conflict, hitting 100 targets in 10 minutes. According to the IDF, targets hit in Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and southern Lebanon included Hezbollah command centers and other military infrastructure. Military sources report that among the targets were intelligence headquarters and offices used by Hezbollah to plan attacks, as well as assets of the elite Radwan Force.
"This is the largest attack carried out against Hezbollah infrastructure since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion," the military stated. The IDF notes that most targets were located "in the heart of the urban population, as part of Hezbollah's cynical exploitation of Lebanese citizens as human shields." Before the strikes, the IDF issued evacuation warnings for Lebanese civilians
Final warning from Hezbollah: Respect the ceasefire.
Hezbollah MP Ibrahim Al-Moussawi warned of a reaction from Iran and its allies if Israel "does not respect the ceasefire." "The agreement includes Lebanon, according to its terms, and Iran insisted on this inclusion," Al-Moussawi told the local television channel Al-Jadeed. Israel has denied Lebanon's inclusion and stated it will continue attacks against the terrorist organization. Pakistan, France, and Egypt, which helped mediate, have all confirmed Lebanon's inclusion in the deal.
Netanyahu: The 2-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon
The two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran does not include Lebanon, asserted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This statement could cause problems for the implementation of the agreement, given that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the truce applies to Lebanon as well. "Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, provided Iran immediately opens the Straits and stops all attacks against the US, Israel, and regional countries," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. The office added that the US informed Israel it is committed to ensuring Iran no longer poses a nuclear threat.
IDF: We stop in Iran, we continue in Lebanon...
The Israeli Air Force announced it has not carried out attacks in Iran since approximately 03:00 a.m., when the IDF reported executing a wave of attacks aimed at reducing Iranian missile strikes against Israel. However, the military states it "continues to fight against the terrorist organization Hezbollah in Lebanon." "According to the instructions of the political level, the IDF has stopped firing in the campaign against Iran and remains on high alert for defense. However, in Lebanon, the IDF states it 'continues combat and ground operations'."
The Axis of Resistance honors the US-Iran ceasefire, Hezbollah halts attacks
Forces of the Axis of Resistance have signaled their intention to honor the ceasefire agreed upon between the US and Iran. Specifically, three Lebanese sources close to Hezbollah report that the organization stopped firing at northern Israel and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon early Wednesday morning. A similar stance is being taken by pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq, which announced a suspension of their attacks on "enemy bases" in the region. "The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announces the suspension of its operations for two weeks," the alliance stated in a brief Telegram message.
www.bankingnews.gr
Readers’ Comments