US strikes Iran for 11th night as Trump threatens 'Pickaxe Mountain' near Natanz
Air defences activated in Tehran for the first time in the current escalation, with detonations heard in the northeast of the capital. The strikes aim to degrade Iran's ability to target oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
Eleventh consecutive night of US strikes
The US military launched new attacks on military targets in Iran overnight, marking the eleventh night in a row of strikes, according to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM) on X. The exact targets were not disclosed. The operation is intended to weaken Iran's ability to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. This is the longest sustained bombing campaign against Iran since the current escalation began. The strikes come amid heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear program and its regional military activities.
Trump threatens 'Pickaxe Mountain'
Hours before the latest strikes, President Donald Trump explicitly threatened to target an area around a facility known as "Pickaxe Mountain." Speaking at the White House during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday, Trump said:
We will target this area shortly, and with full force.
The site, located in the Kuh-e Kolang mountain south of the Natanz nuclear facility in central Iran, has been previously identified by Trump as a potential target. He added that the US military would strike any facility Iran intends to use for nuclear purposes. The threat points to a possible expansion of the campaign beyond immediate military targets to sites associated with Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Air defence activated in Tehran
For the first time since the recent escalation, air defence systems were activated in the Iranian capital Tehran. A DPA reporter on the ground reported hearing muffled detonations in the northeast of the metropolis. The activation suggests that some of the US strikes may have targeted sites closer to the capital or that Iran is bracing for potential attacks on urban areas. No details on damage or casualties were immediately available. The sound of explosions in Tehran marks a significant psychological escalation for the city's millions of residents.
Strategic context: the Strait of Hormuz
The US strikes are framed as a response to Iran's threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil passes. CENTCOM stated the goal is to degrade Iran's military capabilities to attack merchant vessels. The strait has been a flashpoint in previous US-Iran tensions. The 11-night operation shows Washington's determination to maintain freedom of navigation in the region.
Diplomatic backdrop
Trump issued his threat during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, a visit that was ostensibly about bilateral relations but became a platform for the US president to signal further military action. Lebanon, which borders Israel and hosts Hezbollah, is indirectly affected by the US-Iran conflict. The meeting reflects the broader regional dimensions of the crisis.
