Iran lifts missile range restrictions, US establishes task force to disrupt weapon transit

An Iranian military spokesman announced on Saturday that the country had lifted its self-imposed restrictions on missile ranges, while U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) the same day announced the establishment of a task force to block Iran's ground routes for weapon transit.

At a press conference in Tehran, spokesman Hossein Mohebbi of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) emphasized that restrictions on the range of Iranian missiles had been lifted, saying the country would demonstrate its capabilities to respond to threats on the battlefield and could strike the enemy at unexpected locations through asymmetric warfare.

Iran's arms production and upgrade drive will not be disrupted, he emphasized. The spokesman added that the United States had sought to tally Iran's missile stockpiles and estimate when its ammunition would run out, yet Iran had moved weapons manufacturing underground to sustain production.

He warned that any further miscalculation by the United States or Israel would trigger a far heavier Iranian response, with repercussions for Washington and Tel Aviv that could last for years.

On Feb. 25 this year, Iran announced it had voluntarily capped its missile range at 2,000 kilometers for defensive and deterrence purposes, attempting to show it did not pose a global threat. That statement came as Iran prepared for the third round of indirect talks with U.S. representatives over its nuclear program.

Also on Saturday, the U.S. CENTCOM announced in a social media post the formation of a task force that will support ongoing U.S. government efforts to prevent Iran from using ground routes to transport advanced weapons and other materials.

Task Force Iron Gate, a unit of approximately 20 civilian and military personnel based in Tampa, Florida, will coordinate with other U.S. government agencies on preventing the movement of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials, and illegal revenue streams across Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea, according to the announcement.

Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, said the establishment of the task force reinforces the U.S. blockade against Iran at sea and will further constrain Iran's ability to rebuild weapons factories and replenish its military.

U.S. forces imposed a naval blockade on Iran from April 13 to June 18. After the brief ceasefire between Washington and Tehran collapsed, U.S. Central Command announced on July 14 that it would reinstate the maritime blockade targeting vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas.

Iran lifts missile range restrictions, US establishes task force to disrupt weapon transit

Iran lifts missile range restrictions, US establishes task force to disrupt weapon transit

At least 33 people were killed and more than 39 wounded in airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition near Yemen's capital Sanaa, according to a Sunday social media post by Anees al-Asbahi, spokesman for the Houthi-run health authorities.

Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported Saturday that Saudi airstrikes hit Al-Shariya Village east of Sanaa, destroying several residential buildings and causing dozens of casualties.

The report also said that Saudi warplanes subsequently launched several more airstrikes, targeting rescue workers and bombing the roads leading to the village.

The Saudi side has not yet responded to these allegations.

Search and rescue operations began shortly after the strikes, though progress remained slow.

"Many victims are still trapped under the rubble, mainly because warplanes keep circling overhead. We cannot confirm an exact casualty toll; we estimate there may be more than 60. Thirteen children and four women were inside this building. Only a few have been pulled out, and over 10 of them remain buried inside," rescuer Zakaria Al-Gharbi told a China Media Group reporter on Saturday.

By the time of the interview, the village had already come under four rounds of airstrikes totaling nine attacks. Some rescuers and civil defense personnel were also targeted.

More than an hour had passed since the last strike, yet warplanes could still be heard overhead, forcing search-and-rescue and clearance work to be temporarily halted.

On Saturday evening, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement on social media platform X that Saudi forces had carried out 105 airstrikes and missile attacks on Sanaa and seven other Yemeni provinces over the past 24 hours, claiming dozens of casualties, mostly women and children.

According to the spokesman, the latest airstrikes have brought the total number of Saudi air operations since the escalation began to 4,369.

Saudi airstrikes kill at least 33 in Yemeni village