A 4.3-magnitude earthquake struck Iran’s Gerash region on Tuesday, according to official reports. Authorities said there were no immediate indications of significant damage or injuries.
The tremor occurred amid heightened regional tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran and Israel.
The quake came as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released figures regarding alleged US casualties during what it described as retaliatory strikes.
An IRGC spokesperson claimed Iranian strikes killed or wounded up to 650 US soldiers in the first two days of operations. He said Iranian missiles and drones repeatedly hit the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, causing 160 casualties.
The US military, however, said six American service members died in operations against Iran by Monday afternoon.
US media reported that 18 more troops suffered serious injuries. Officials also said no fatalities occurred at US bases in Bahrain.
The IRGC claimed its missiles heavily damaged a US combat support ship. It also said it fired four cruise missiles at the USS Abraham Lincoln, forcing it to move towards the Indian Ocean.
However, US Central Command firmly rejected these assertions, describing them as ‘disinformation’ and a ‘lie’. It stated that the missiles launched by Iran did not come close to striking the aircraft carrier.
The claims made by both sides could not be independently verified. The exchange of sharply divergent accounts underscores the rising tensions in the region.
While the earthquake did not appear to cause major physical damage, it occurred against a backdrop of deepening geopolitical strain, further intensifying an already volatile situation in the Middle East.
Also Read: Iran Closes Strait Of Hormuz As Oil Prices Surge Over Escalating West Asia Tensions
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