​​​​​​​ISTANBUL

The Israeli army said Saturday that it struck the headquarters of Iran's Marine Industries Organization.

The headquarters is responsible for the development of naval weapons, the army claimed in a statement on US social media company X.

It also claimed it hit multiple sites used for the production and development of weapons and air defense systems.

Hostilities in the region have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, inflicting casualties and infrastructure damage, while disrupting global markets and aviation.