ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Compared with the first three days of the war, aerial attacks by US and Israeli forces were fewer on Tuesday, the fourth day of the war, with greater focus on Tehran. Israel announced that so far it has carried out 1,200 attacks on Iran, targeting 2,000 sites belonging to the Islamic Republic and destroying 300 missile launch platforms across the country.
According to the information released, for the past two days the United States and Israel have been attempting to target meetings of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, which is expected to oversee the selection of the next spiritual leader of the Islamic Republic. Because of the risks of attacks on the gatherings, two meetings have been held online, according to the Fars News Agency, and another meeting is scheduled for next week.
On Tuesday afternoon in the city of Qom, the office of Iran’s Assembly of Experts was targeted. Initial reports claimed the office was struck during a meeting to choose the next leader, but Iranian media and officials later denied this.
Late Monday night, the Assembly of Experts building in Tehran was also targeted. The body holds its meetings in the former Iranian parliament building, where its administrative affairs are also managed.
It remains unclear when Iran’s next leader will be selected. Fars News Agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported Tuesday night that the Assembly of Experts is working on selecting a new leader, but its meetings are not proceeding normally. The agency added that a successor to Ali Khamenei will be chosen soon.
Although attacks were fewer on Tuesday compared to previous days, a number of military bases and facilities were targeted in the provinces of Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, Hormozgan, Ardabil, and Sistan and Baluchestan.
On the fourth day of the war, the US and Israel struck several locations in the capital Tehran. According to circulating reports, a target in the Hakimiyeh industrial district in eastern Tehran was bombed Tuesday night.
Several targets in Tehran’s Fakouri neighborhood were also bombed Tuesday evening. A number of buildings were hit in the attacks, at least one of which was a security or military facility.
Mehrabad Airport and an air force base in Tehran were once again bombed. Several locations around Azadi Square were also targeted.
On Tuesday afternoon, several targets were struck in the Aghdasieh and Jamaran neighborhoods, around Enghelab Square, and along Madani Street.
On the main Tehran–Karaj highway, a large weapons and ammunition warehouse belonging to the IRGC was targeted. Videos circulating online show a large fire breaking out at the site after the strike.
Another security and military facility targeted in Tehran on Tuesday was the headquarters of Iran’s police intelligence organization. Images and videos shared online show the building completely destroyed.
On Kish Island, videos circulating online show that a radar base belonging to the IRGC naval forces was completely destroyed. Areas around Kish Airport were also bombed again.
Some media outlets reported Tuesday night that a ground attack had taken place on the port of Chabahar in Sistan and Baluchestan province, but the city’s governor denied the claim, saying the city remains under government control.
In a statement, the IRGC’s public relations office said the US and Israel have been attacking schools, hospitals, sports fields, restaurants, and event halls, adding that more than 700 people have been killed so far, including 170 students and teachers.
The statement comes as human rights organizations in eastern Kurdistan reported that Iranian security and military commanders have evacuated their bases and taken shelter in hospitals, schools, and event halls.
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Iran’s army said that together with the IRGC it has shot down 35 advanced US and Israeli drones since the beginning of the war.