Israel begins wide-scale strikes across Iran, IDF says

Thailand denounced an attack on a Thai-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and summoned Iran’s ambassador as efforts continued on Thursday to rescue three crew members feared trapped aboard the damaged ship.

The bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was hit on Wednesday by Iranian projectiles while transiting the strategic waterway without cargo.

Of the 23 crew members on board, 20 were rescued by the Omani navy after abandoning the vessel in a lifeboat.

Thai authorities said the three missing crew members were believed to have been working in the engine compartment when the ship was struck.

Esmail Dehghan, a commander in the aerospace force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes early on Tuesday, according to state media.

He was killed in a strike on a residential house in the city of Arak, the reports said.

His funeral was held in Arak on Wednesday.

Akbar Ghaffari, deputy intelligence minister of Iran, was killed the joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran, the Iranian news agency ILNA reported.

Akbar Ghaffari had previously served as political-security deputy governor of East Azerbaijan province, the report said.

His funeral was held in the city of Tabriz.

An Italian military base in Erbil in Iraq’s Kurdistan region was struck by a missile overnight, but no injuries were reported, Italy’s defense ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry said all Italian personnel were safe and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto was in constant contact with senior military commanders following the incident.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also said in a post on X that Italian troops had taken shelter in a bunker and were safe.

Italy has around 300 troops in Erbil, where they are training Kurdish security forces, according to the defense ministry.

Explosions and the deployment of security forces were reported in several Iranian cities on Thursday, according to eyewitness accounts sent to Iran International.

Several loud blasts were heard around 2 am in the Azimiyeh district of Karaj, central Iran, while residents in Kashan, north-central Iran, reported multiple explosions around 4 am. A separate witness account said an attack occurred around 1 am in the port city of Bandar Sirik, southern Iran.

In Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, five explosions were reported around 7 am in a northern district, which witnesses said appeared to be linked to the area of the 92nd Armored Division. Three additional explosions were reported further south after the sound of fighter jets was heard. Witnesses also reported a missile strike on air defenses in the Persian Gulf island of Qeshm.

Witness accounts also indicated security forces had been deployed in public facilities. In Lahijan, northern Iran, equipment belonging to security forces was seen at Takhti stadium, while in Shiraz, southwestern Iran, witnesses said Imam Reza school was being used as a base for Basij forces.

In Malayer, western Iran, witnesses said IRGC forces moved from their base at Sepah Square to the Ebtekar technical school on Parastar boulevard, and security forces were seen gathering at locations along Saadi street.