Iran eyes retaliation after US airstrikes: Key American bases now in crosshairs
In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, the United States launched airstrikes on three nuclear-related sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself directly into Israel's ongoing military campaign aimed at crippling Tehran's nuclear program.
The Pentagon confirmed that American stealth bombers deployed the GBU-57 A/B bunker buster, a 30,000-pound bomb capable of penetrating fortified underground facilities, a capability exclusive to the US military. The targeted sites include Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, though the extent of the damage remains unclear.
Iran's foreign ministry warned of a "decisive response" that could upend the fragile security balance across the
Middle East
.
Now, with over 40,000 US troops stationed across the region, the question isn't if Iran will retaliate, it's where.
Top US Targets in Iran's line of sight
Military analysts and intelligence sources have flagged several high-value US military installations as likely Iranian targets, all well within Iran's missile and drone range.
Al Udeid Air Base – Qatar: Largest US military base in the Middle East
US Navy's fifth fleet – Bahrain: Controls much of the Persian Gulf
Al Asad Air Base – Iraq: One of the largest US bases in the region. Previously hit by Iranian missiles in 2020 after Soleimani's assassination.
Harir Air Base – Erbil, Iraq: Key hub for US operations in Northern Iraq
Al Tanf Garrison – Southern Syria: Strategic triangle bordering Iraq, Syria, and Jordan
Ali al-Salem Air Base – Kuwait: Just 20 miles from the Iraqi border
Al Dhafra Air Base – UAE: Base for F-22 Raptors, surveillance drones
Beyond bases: Other Iranian retaliation options
Diplomatic strikes: US embassies in Iraq, the UAE, and Israel are also vulnerable.
Proxy warfare: Hezbollah, Houthis, and Shia militias could be unleashed across multiple fronts
Cyber attacks: Power grids, satellites, and infrastructure could be targeted
Maritime escalation: Iran could block the Strait of Hormuz, a move that would send global oil prices soaring and potentially drag in Nato
The Strait of Hormuz: The ultimate leverage
Roughly 25% of the world's oil and one-third of its LNG pass through the Strait of Hormuz. If Iran mines, blockades, or militarises this waterway, it could ignite an economic war with global fallout.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
US trade threat: Donald Trump warns Brics nations of 10% tariff hike; bloc slams US trade policies
US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose an additional 10% import tariff on China, India, and other Brics nations after the 11-member grouping criticised his trade policies during their summit in Brazil. 'Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of Brics, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,' Trump said in a post on social media. His remarks came after Brics leaders denounced the US tariff regime as 'indiscriminate', 'damaging', and 'illegal' in their joint statement on Sunday. The Brics bloc — which includes China, India, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia — accounts for nearly half the world's population and about 40% of global economic output. Once envisioned as a forum for fast-growing emerging markets, the expanded Brics now brings together both US adversaries such as Iran and Russia, and Washington's allies, including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. While some US-aligned members sought to moderate the criticism by avoiding Trump's name in the joint declaration, it did little to placate the White House. Saudi Arabia, a key buyer of US weapons, went so far as to withdraw its foreign minister from Sunday's session and the official Brics 'family photo', AFP reported. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Tariff pressure mounts ahead of August 1 Trump's renewed tariff threat comes ahead of an August 1 deadline, by which the administration has demanded new trade deals from global partners or face sweeping unilateral duties. The Brics nations now appear likely to be targeted for steeper penalties. The latest backlash also follows a Brics statement condemning US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure — a move seen as bolstering member state Iran amid rising Middle East tensions. China defends Brics stance China rejected accusations that the Brics platform was hostile to the United States. 'China has repeatedly stated its position that trade and tariff wars have no winners, and protectionism offers no way forward,' said foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning in a briefing on Monday. 'Brics is not targeted at any country,' Mao added, calling the bloc an 'important platform for cooperation between emerging markets and developing countries.' The summit's momentum appeared weakened by the absence of key leaders. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has never missed a Brics summit in 12 years, skipped this year's event. Russian President Vladimir Putin, wanted by the International Criminal Court over the Ukraine war, joined via video link. Despite the diplomatic strain, Putin told Brics counterparts the group has become a 'key player in global governance', underlining its growing geopolitical weight. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
News18
28 minutes ago
- News18
Iranian President Says Israel Tried To Assassinate Him, Hints At Restarting Nuke Talks With US
Last Updated: Masoud Pezeshkian claimed Israel attempted to assassinate him during a 12-day conflict. He expressed willingness to restart nuclear talks if trust with the US is reestablished. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has revealed that Israel had attempted to assassinate him by bombarding an area where he was holding a meeting during the 12-day conflict last month. In an interview with US media figure Tucker Carlson which was released on Monday, the Iranian President claimed that Tel Aviv did attempt to kill him but failed. 'They did try, yes. They acted accordingly, but they failed. It was not the United States that was behind the attempt on my life. It was Israel. I was in a meeting… they tried to bombard the area in which we were holding that meeting," he said according to a translation of his remarks from Persian, in apparent reference to assassination bid as reported by news agency AFP. During the last month's conflict, an Israeli official had also hinted at assassination of country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the top Israeli official had said the assassination of Iran's top leader is 'not off limits." The official had said that the conflict 'would only end either with Iran voluntarily dismantling its nuclear program or Israel making it impossible for Tehran to reconstitute it." No Issues In Restarting Nuke Talks During the interview, Pezeshkian said that Tehran has 'no problem" restarting nuclear talks, provided that trust can be reestablished between the two countries. 'We see no problem in re-entering the negotiations," the Iranian President said as quoted by the news agency. 'There is a condition … for restarting the talks. How are we going to trust the United States again? We re-entered the negotiations, then how can we know for sure that in the middle of the talks the Israeli regime will not be given the permission again to attack us," he added. Iran-Israel Tensions His statement came days after a truce between Iran and Israel after engaging in a 12-day war. In a major escalation in the Middle East region, Israel launched 'Operation Rising Lion,' striking at the heart of Iran's nuclear program on June 13, killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. The Israeli attacks took place days before Tehran and Washington were set to meet for a new round of nuclear talks which began on April 12. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the operation was a 'targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival." More than 900 people were killed in Iran during the conflict. Iran launched missiles at targets across Israel, including the port city of Haifa, after Israeli forces bombed civilian and energy infrastructure across Iran. The retaliatory strikes killed 28 people in Israel, according to authorities. The 12-day war also saw United States launching strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz. (With inputs from AFP) First Published: July 07, 2025, 19:46 IST
Mint
31 minutes ago
- Mint
Houthis attack ship in Red Sea for first time since Trump announced a truce
TEL AVIV—A crew in the Red Sea was forced to abandon ship after it was hit by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday, the first attack of its kind since President Trump announced a truce in May after he said the group promised to stop attacking Middle Eastern waterways. The Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas had taken on water after being hit by gunfire with small arms and self-propelled grenades near the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeidah in the Red Sea, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British Navy task force that monitors shipping in the Middle East. The Houthis said they targeted the Magic Seas because it belonged to a company that 'violated the entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine." Early on Monday, Israel's military said it carried out airstrikes on Yemen following several ballistic-missile attacks by the Houthi rebel group in recent days. Israel used around 20 jet fighters and dropped over 50 munitions during the attack, which targeted the ports of Al Hudaydah, Ras Isa and Salif as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant, the military said. It said the ports are used to transfer Iranian weapons and the power plant is used for the Houthi's military needs. Israel's military warned locals to evacuate those areas shortly before striking them. The military said it also struck the Galaxy Leader, a commercial vessel Israel said was taken by the Houthis in November 2023. The Houthis had installed a radar system aboard the ship to track other vessels in the busy Red Sea maritime traffic routes, according to the military. After the Israeli attacks, the Houthis said they responded by firing one ballistic missile at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, one at Ashdod port and one at a power station in Ashkelon, plus 11 drones at Israel's Red-Sea port city Eilat. Israel's attack was the first against Houthi-held parts of Yemen since the 12-day war between Iran and Israel ended late in June. Israel and the U.S. say Iran funds, arms and guides the Houthis. Iranian officials have voiced support for the Houthi cause but deny U.S. allegations that Tehran funds and arms them. The Houthis say their attacks are in support of Palestinians in Gaza. In May, President Trump announced the U.S. would halt its military campaign against the Houthis in return for the militants halting their missile and drone attacks on shipping that snarled international shipping lanes. Israel was left out of the deal and the Iran-backed group has continued to attack Israel with ballistic missiles and drones. The Houthis have fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel since the start of Israel's war against Hamas in 2023, hampering Israeli attempts to renew air traffic to prewar levels. The Houhtis said they repelled Israel's attack on Monday, while residents described the strikes as the heaviest since Israel targeted oil facilities in Hodeidah last July. Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the targeted sites, locals said. It wasn't clear whether the missiles fired from Yemen on Monday hit any of their targets. There were no reports of damage, but the Israeli military didn't report intercepting the missiles either. The military didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. The Israeli airstrikes on Monday followed two recent ballistic-missile attacks by the Houthis—one on Sunday and another one last week. No casualties were reported from those attacks.
