The conflict between Iran and Israel intensified as the war in the Middle East entered its ninth day, with both sides carrying out new attacks and the situation across the region becoming increasingly volatile, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Sunday.
According to the report, Iranian authorities also claimed that around 200 US military personnel had been killed in various attacks over the past 24 hours and alleged that several American soldiers declared dead by US officials were in fact captured during the fighting.
According to reports, Israeli and US strikes on Iran escalated, with several energy facilities affected. Iranian media said the attacks damaged fuel depots in three areas, including the city of Karaj near the capital, Tehran, while a fire broke out at an oil refinery following the strikes.
Iran said it launched retaliatory attacks targeting a refinery in the Israeli port city of Haifa and also struck a US oil vessel. Iranian officials repeated their claim that 200 US soldiers had been killed within a 24-hour period in different attacks.
According to 24NewsHD TV Channel, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it also targeted a US oil ship and a tanker flying the flag of the Marshall Islands in the strategic Strait of Hormuz using drones. The IRGC further claimed that 21 US personnel were killed at a naval base in Bahrain.
The channel reported that late-night strikes were carried out on fuel storage installations around Tehran. An oil depot located near the central refinery in the capital was struck, while another depot in north-western Tehran was also hit.
Witnesses reported seeing large flames and thick smoke rising from the affected facilities, and another strike was reported in the Shahran area of the capital.
The Israel Defence Forces said its aircraft targeted several fuel storage complexes used by the Iranian military based on intelligence information. Israeli officials claimed that the storage tanks were used to support military infrastructure and provide fuel to Iranian military institutions.
On the other hand, Iran claimed that some US military personnel declared dead by the United States Department of Defence were actually captured during the conflict.
Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s national security leadership, said that during the week-long fighting, several American soldiers had been taken into custody.
In a statement posted on social media, Larijani said Iranian authorities had received information suggesting that a number of US troops were being held as prisoners, while US officials had claimed they were killed in combat.
Larijani said that despite what he described as futile attempts by the United States to conceal the truth, the reality of the conflict could not remain hidden for long. He added that Washington had become trapped in the consequences of its miscalculations and would eventually have to pay the price for its actions.
He further said that despite certain shortcomings, the Iranian nation remained united against what he described as aggression by the United States and Israel, adding that there was no disagreement among Iran’s leadership over responding to the attacks.
According to Larijani, countries in the region understood that the United States could no longer guarantee global security. He said Iran had no dispute with regional states but warned that if US bases in the region were used by adversaries, Iran would reserve the right to defend itself.
He added that the Strait of Hormuz had not been formally closed but acknowledged that the ongoing war had affected the situation in the strategically important waterway.
Reporter: Anwar Abbas