US launches fresh strikes on Iran after Trump, Hegseth warnings

The reports came after a series of unusually blunt warnings from senior Trump administration officials.

By World Israel News Staff

The United States has begun carrying out strikes inside Iran, according to American officials, following reports of anti-aircraft activity and explosions in multiple parts of the country on Wednesday night.

Iranian media reported that air defenses were activated in Tehran and other locations, while residents reported hearing explosions. Shortly afterward, U.S. officials confirmed that American forces were conducting attacks in Iran.

The reported strikes come after a series of unusually blunt warnings from senior Trump administration officials.

Earlier in the day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. Central Command would be “busy tonight” and warned that Iran could face additional strikes after refusing to reach an agreement with Washington.

“We are going to hit Iran hard,” Hegseth said, adding that Tehran would have “tap, tap, tap bombs dropping on key facilities” and arguing that the objective was not to restart the war but to establish the conditions for a deal.

President Donald Trump struck a similarly aggressive tone, suggesting that further military action remained under consideration after several rounds of U.S. strikes on Iranian targets earlier this week.

“I may keep going,” Trump told Fox News. “They had a chance to sign a deal and survive.”

Trump also declared that Iran’s military had been “completely defeated” and claimed the U.S. naval blockade was rapidly crippling the Iranian economy.

Adding to the speculation, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee posted earlier that “things may get spicy in the neighborhood soon,” a message widely interpreted as a hint that additional military developments were imminent.

The latest strikes follow U.S. attacks launched earlier this week in retaliation for the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter, an incident Washington blamed on Iran.

Details regarding the targets struck and the scope of the operation were not immediately available.

This is a developing story.

CENTCOMiran strikesPete Hegseth