Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said Thursday it is fully prepared with several contingency plan to counter any further U.S. strikes.
U.S. forces launched another round of strikes against Iranian military targets on Thursday evening, marking the 13th consecutive night of attacks, said the U.S. Central Command.
Iranian media reported multiple explosions across several provinces, including Kermanshah, Khuzestan and Bushehr, following Thursday's U.S. strikes. In the southwestern province of Khuzestan, a missile attack near a passenger terminal in Shalamcheh on the Iran-Iraq border left at least two people dead and 11 others wounded.
Explosions were also heard in Iran's Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported on Thursday.
In retaliation, IRGC said it conducted strikes against U.S. bases and assets in Jordan and Kuwait, which inflicted personnel casualties and heavy military losses.
Iranian forces destroyed a U.S. army electronic warfare special unit at the Al-Adiri Camp in Kuwait, and damaged the base's command and control tower.
Iranian military sources said Iran has readied various response options to counter every scenario, including the possibility of a U.S. ground invasion.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on X that Iran will adopt an "eye for an eye" defense doctrine. "Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response."
Also on Thursday, the IRGC said that it had stopped three oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of which caught fire after an explosion.
In a statement, the IRGC said three oil tankers were trying to pass through the mine-laid route south of the Strait of Hormuz. One of them exploded and caught fire, and the other two turned back.
Iran's Health Ministry said on Thursday that U.S. air strikes on Iran since June 27 had killed 55 people and wounded 629 others.
Iran says ready to counter any U.S. strikes
A group of Japanese people gathered on Thursday in Tokyo to protest the government's ongoing push to expand military capabilities, including steps that could erode Japan's postwar pacifist principles.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said in a recent program that Japan should discuss policies related to nuclear weapons without any taboos, triggering strong concern within Japan and from the international community.
During the protest, people voiced strong opposition to the government's defense strategies, including potential changes to Japan's three non-nuclear principles, under which the country pledges not to possess, produce or allow the introduction of nuclear weapons.
"Japan has always identified itself as the world's only victim of atomic bombings. Therefore, Japan must resolutely abide by the Three Non-Nuclear Principles it has upheld thus far," said a protester.
Other protesters criticized the government's broader military buildup, arguing that it contradicts the nation's pacifist constitution, such as boosting the "enemy base strike capability," which refers to Japan's ability to launch counterstrikes against adversary bases before actual damage occurs, if it determines that an attack is imminent.
"Although the government claims this is for 'defense,' it is actually violating Article 9 (the 'peace clause' that renounces war and bans 'war potential') of the Japanese Constitution. For instance, it is enhancing the 'enemy base strike capability.' Despite its repeated claim to strictly observe the 'exclusively defense-oriented' principle, the Japanese government has continuously deployed these offensive weapons. I think these actions are highly problematic," said a protester.
"Absolutely, we cannot allow this [military expansion] to happen. Young people today do not know about the history. Unlike in China, Japan lacks a systematic educational approach to teaching the realities of wartime history. Therefore, we must constantly tell young people about the devastating and tragic consequences of war. I hope that today's politicians, such as [Japanese Prime Minister Sanae] Takaichi and Koizumi, will seriously study the history of the Showa era," said another protester.
Japanese protest against gov't military expansion push
