US Begins Third Night of Strikes on Iran After MoU Collapse
US President Donald Trump announced that the US military will strike Iran hard tonight and tomorrow after the collapse of a Memorandum of Understanding, with CENTCOM confirming the launch of a third consecutive night of strikes and Iranian media reporting explosions in southern cities. The Iran strikes follow Trump's statements in a radio interview that the US will hit Iran very hard with no effective response possible from Tehran.
Trump Announces Renewed Strikes on Iran
US President Donald Trump stated in a radio interview that the US will hit Iran very hard tonight and tomorrow. [2] He said there is not a damn thing they can do about it and that they have nothing. [2] Trump explained that the Memorandum of Understanding was a test and Tehran did not honor it. [2] He added that current US military action in Iran could last for two to three weeks. [2] Trump referenced Iran's nuclear power and noted that Pickaxe Mountain, a highly fortified nuclear site one mile south of the Natanz nuclear complex in Iran, could be the target of a nice, big, fat, shot. [2] He stated that Iran is not doing well with its nuclear situation and that every time we hear about it, we blow it up. [2] Trump said the US will probably give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon. [2] Pickaxe Mountain is a heavily fortified site that hosts two deeply buried tunnel complexes that experts assess as beyond the reach of the most powerful bunker buster bombs in the US arsenal. [2] The president said that he was not interested in answering a question about whether Israel will intervene in the strikes tonight. [2] He added that he has a good relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and stated that without the US, Israel would not be around today. [2]
CENTCOM Launches Third Night of Operations
US Central Command began launching the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief's direction. [2] US Central Command said Monday that American forces used unmanned surface vessels in combat for the first time, striking an Iranian naval facility that the military said supported attacks on commercial shipping. [5] CENTCOM reported that these sea drones made their combat debut by striking the Iranian naval facility. [5]
US President Donald Trump announces renewed military strikes on Iran after MoU collapse. — Source: jerusalempost
Explosions Reported Across Southern Iran
Iranian semi-official news agency Mehr has reported explosions in southern Iranian cities of Kish Island, Sirik Island, Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas. [2] Iranian media reported four explosions heard in Bandar Abbas and four missiles hitting around Konarak. [4] These accounts from Iranian media detail the locations of the reported explosions and missile strikes in southern Iran. [2] [4]
IRGC Downs US MQ-1 Drone
Iran's IRGC shoots down US MQ-1 drone according to Iranian state media. [1] The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps downs the unmanned aerial vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz, says Iran's state-run broadcaster. [1] Iran's IRGC shot down a US MQ-1 drone in the Strait of Hormuz. [1]
Context on US-Iran Tensions and Nuclear Concerns
US President Donald Trump stated in a radio interview on the Hugh Hewitt show on Monday evening that the US will hit Iran very hard tonight and tomorrow. [2] He explained that the Memorandum of Understanding was a test and Tehran did not honor it. [2] Trump referenced Iran's nuclear power and noted that Pickaxe Mountain could be the target of a nice, big, fat, shot. [2] He added that Iran is not doing well with its nuclear situation and that every time we hear about it, we blow it up. [2] Trump said the US will probably give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon. [2] The president said that he was not interested in answering a question about whether Israel will intervene in the strikes tonight. [2]
Calls for Transparency on Prior Strike
Democrat senators led by Kirsten Gillibrand called on Monday for President Donald Trump's administration to disclose within the next week the findings from a U.S. military investigation into a Feb. 28 strike at a girls' school in Iran. [3] Lawmakers demand the Pentagon release findings on the Iran school strike. [3] Reuters first reported on March 5 that the strike occurred. [3]
What to watch next includes potential US targeting of Pickaxe Mountain near Natanz and continuation of military action that could last for two to three weeks.
