Iran Claims At Least 30 Civilians Killed, 260 Injured in Latest US Airstrikes".

Tehran - Iran has claimed that at least 30 civilians have been killed and 260 people injured in the latest series of US airstrikes that began on Saturday night. 

According to Iranian state media, the attacks are now in their fifth consecutive day

Key Details:

Bushehr Hit: Iran’s southern port city of Bushehr, home to the country’s only civilian nuclear plant, was struck on Wednesday.

   "The American enemy attacked three locations in Bushehr today," said Mohammad Mozafari, the city’s governor, to IRNA news agency.

Other Casualties:

   A missile attack on a barracks near Iranshahr killed 7 Iranian military personnel on Wednesday. The Iranian army said at least 7 Iranians were killed at a military base in Bampur overnight. Iran’s Health Ministry said around 260 people have also been wounded.

US Position:

   US Central Command (Centcom) said strikes were aimed at “degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz."Centcom also confirmed a renewed US Navy blockade on Iranian ports came into effect Tuesday night.

Iran’s Retaliation:

   Iran said it has retaliated against US bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.  The IRGC vowed: “Vengeance for the pure blood of martyrs is certain and imminent”.

Trump’s Warning:

  President Trump warned of more strikes, telling Fox News: “Next week it gets really bad for them. We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate”

Broader Toll Claims:

Iran has given varying figures during the conflict. Earlier reports from Iranian officials said US attacks had killed 14 people and injured 78 across five provinces on July 8 and 9.Iran’s UN envoy has also claimed over 1,300 civilians killed since Feb 28 in US-Israel strikes. These figures could not be independently verified. 

CONTEXT:

The escalation follows Iran allegedly attacking 7 commercial ships in 7 days, killing at least 2 Indian sailors. The US says it is responding to attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. 

Death tolls reported by Iran have not been independently verified.