Tehran endured a day of terror on the 10th (local time) as the United States and Israel unleashed what Washington had warned would be "the worst night" of strikes against Iran. Contrary to U.S. predictions of a swift conclusion, the front has now shifted to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has deployed sea mines and American forces have destroyed 16 mine-laying vessels in ongoing underwater warfare.
U.S. Secretary of Defense (War Department) Pete Hegseth declared this would be "the most intense day of attacks on Iran," and American and Israeli forces delivered on that promise with airstrikes across the country, including the capital Tehran. According to the Defense Department, nearly 700 munitions were fired, including missiles, guided bombs, drones, bunker busters dropped by B-2 stealth bombers, and precision-guided bombs launched from F-35 fighters. Targets included 16 aircraft at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport and fuel facilities at the Parchin missile base. U.S. Central Command said it has struck more than 5,500 targets to date, including over 60 Iranian vessels. Hegseth claimed 90% of Iran's missile launchers have been destroyed, up from 75% the previous day.
U.S. and Israeli forces also dropped bombs on intersections in downtown Tehran, a residential area. One Tehran resident told Reuters the night was "like hell," adding that "children are afraid to fall asleep" and describing the strikes as the most severe since the war began. Another resident told the Associated Press that "airstrikes near residential areas knocked out power." A 27-year-old woman caring for an infant said she "witnessed residential buildings being bombed" and that "tens of thousands of Iranian residents have fled to the provinces to escape the airstrikes."
Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, held a press conference at UN headquarters in New York, claiming more than 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed in the strikes. He also stated that since the war began, approximately 10,000 civilian facilities have been destroyed, including 65 schools and educational institutions and some 8,000 homes.
Iran has not backed down, preparing for another battle with thousands of sea mines hidden beneath the waves. CNN, citing sources familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments, reported that Iran has been laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz in recent days. While only dozens have been placed so far, sources say hundreds could be deployed rapidly. CBS also reported that U.S. intelligence detected Iran using small vessels to plant mines two to three at a time in the strait. According to Reuters, Iran possesses between 5,000 and 6,000 sea mines. CBS estimated Iran's torpedo inventory at 2,000 to 6,000. Most were either domestically produced or imported from China and Russia. The Sadaf-02, Iran's most abundant conventional mine, is designed to target small and medium-sized vessels.
Four ships came under Iranian attack near the Strait of Hormuz on the same day. The 30,000-ton Thai-flagged bulk carrier Mayuri Nari was struck by a projectile 11 nautical miles north of Oman, sustaining hull damage and catching fire. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later claimed responsibility for the attack.
Also that day, a Japanese-flagged container ship and a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier were hit by projectiles 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, and 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, respectively. Earlier, the Liberian-flagged cargo ship Expressroom, owned by an Israeli company, was also struck. This brings the total number of vessels attacked near the Strait of Hormuz to at least 15.
As Iran's threats to the Strait of Hormuz intensify, the U.S. has responded forcefully. According to CBS and Reuters, the Defense Department announced that American forces destroyed 16 mine-laying vessels near the strait. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine said in a briefing that "U.S. Central Command is striking mine-laying vessels and mine storage facilities."
U.S. military casualties have reached approximately 140. The military had not disclosed casualty figures until Reuters reported 150 wounded, prompting officials to announce that about 140 personnel were injured over 10 days, including 8 seriously. This far exceeds the 3 dead and 5 seriously wounded announced by U.S. Central Command on the 1st of this month. Three of those five initially reported as wounded have since died, bringing the total U.S. death toll to 7.
