The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has released video footage showing what it described as ‘self-defence strikes’ carried out against multiple targets inside Iran, as military tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to intensify across the region.According to CENTCOM, the operation was conducted at the direction of the US Commander in Chief and targeted Iranian military surveillance systems, communication networks, radar installations and air defence sites. The US said the targeted infrastructure was being used in ways that posed a threat to American forces and international commercial shipping.The military confirmed that 49 Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched as part of the operation, alongside precision strikes carried out by US Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps assets. The USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) was among the naval platforms involved in firing Tomahawk missiles in support of the mission.Speaking in an interview with Fox News, US President Donald Trump said the operation involved the deployment of 49 Tomahawk missiles, alongside fighter jets targeting Iranian radar and air defence systems.He said the strikes hit positions located about 40 miles outside Tehran as well as areas along Iran’s southwestern coast near the Persian Gulf.Video released by CENTCOM showed plumes of smoke rising from multiple strike locations, with precision-guided munitions used to hit what the US described as key military targets. The strikes reportedly hit command-and-control nodes, surveillance assets and communication systems, CBS news reported. US officials described the operation as a response to what they called Iran’s ‘continued and unwarranted aggression’, adding that US forces remain ‘vigilant, lethal and ready’.
Tomahawk missiles used in strikes
The operation prominently featured the deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles, long-range precision weapons used by the US Navy.Tomahawks are designed for stand-off strikes against heavily defended targets and can be launched from ships and submarines. They fly at low altitude to avoid radar detection and use multiple navigation systems, including GPS, inertial navigation, terrain contour matching and digital scene mapping, to reach their targets with high accuracy.Modern variants can also be updated mid-flight, allowing operators to adjust targets or abort missions if required, making them a key tool in US precision strike operations.
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The latest strikes come amid a broader escalation between the US and Iran, with both sides exchanging attacks, accusations and warnings in recent days.The USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) is an Arleigh Burke-class US Navy guided-missile destroyer, commissioned in 2012 and named after Medal of Honor recipient Navy SEAL Lt Michael P Murphy.Click here to follow live updates on Iran warIran has previously accused the US of striking infrastructure in southern regions of the country, while US officials have said their operations are aimed at degrading Iranian military capabilities that threaten regional security and international shipping routes.The situation has also been marked by heightened activity across the Gulf region, including reports of air defence alerts, missile interceptions and drone operations involving US-linked targets in neighbouring countries.
