US strikes Iran for seventh consecutive night

The United States military conducted a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran, hitting surveillance sites, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities, according to US Central Command (Centcom). The operation, which ended at 21:30 ET (02:30 BST), employed fighter aircraft, aerial drones, and warships. The strikes come after President Donald Trump declared the temporary ceasefire agreement with Iran was over, escalating the conflict that has disrupted shipping in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Strikes and Denials

Centcom stated that its forces targeted military logistics infrastructure and other military assets. Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) claimed that two oil tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines. Centcom dismissed the claim as false, posting on social media that like most IRGC claims, it was untrue. Iran's state-run Fars agency had initially reported the explosions and fires, but shipping traffic in the strait has largely halted due to the ongoing tit-for-tat strikes. The strait normally carries about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

Additionally, Jordan's armed forces reported intercepting 10 Iranian missiles fired into its airspace overnight, with no casualties or damage. Explosions were heard in the central city of Yazd and at Qeshm island and the port of Bandar Abbas near the strait, according to Iranian state media.

Regional Fallout

On Friday, Iran's armed forces claimed to have attacked multiple US military facilities across the Gulf region, including in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and for the first time, Syria. The US denied these claims. However, Kuwaiti officials confirmed that Iranian drone strikes injured a number of their soldiers and damaged a power plant and water desalination stations. Sources told CBS news that several American service members were injured during Iranian attacks on two Jordanian bases over the past week.

Iran's Hormozgan province reported that seven people were killed in the US strikes. Provincial authorities confirmed damage to the Gariveh Bridge, with daylight images showing a crumbled stretch of road and rubble. BBC Verify and BBC Persian verified footage of the bridge damage. The White House reiterated that the US carried out strikes exclusively on military targets, including military logistics infrastructure.

Broader Implications

The strikes mark a week of nightly US attacks since peace talks with Iran collapsed. Tensions over the future of the Strait of Hormuz have hampered efforts to broker a permanent ceasefire. Commercial vessels have largely stopped passing through the strait, raising concerns about global energy supplies. The conflict shows no signs of de-escalation, with both sides trading strikes and accusations. The international community faces mounting pressure to mediate a resolution as regional instability deepens.