Explosions near a U.S. base in Irbil after 13th strike round

At least seven blasts were heard near an air base in Irbil, Iraq, with several plumes of smoke rising, hours after the U.S. military said it had wrapped up its 13th night of strikes against Iran. The U.S. strike cycle was described by CENTCOM as an effort to reopen shipping routes in the regional conflict theater.

Why this matters. The timing shows that maritime-focused U.S.-Iran escalation is producing immediate spillover into Iraqi territory and increasing the likelihood that neighboring states and coalition sites remain exposed to retaliation.