Iran said on Friday it had launched fresh attacks on United States military facilities in the Gulf after a sixth consecutive night of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian military targets, raising fears of a further escalation in the conflict despite last month’s ceasefire.
The U.S. military said it carried out another round of strikes aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities, targeting sites on Qeshm Island and near Bandar Abbas, home to Iran’s largest port and major naval and Revolutionary Guards facilities.
In a statement, U.S. Central Command said: “U.S. forces, including fighter jets, aerial drones, and warships, launched precision munitions that hit dozens of Iranian military targets such as coastal surveillance and air defence sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities.”
Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at U.S. military bases in neighbouring countries. In the early hours of Friday, Iran’s military said it had attacked U.S. facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait.
Several explosion-like sounds were also reported in Qatar’s capital, Doha, while the country’s Ministry of the Interior said a child was injured by shrapnel.
Iranian media reported that the latest U.S. strikes also hit five bridges, Bandar Khamir railway station and Iranshahr Airport in south-eastern Iran.
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State news agency IRNA said seven people were killed in attacks on bridges in the southern port city of Bandar Khamir.
The renewed hostilities have again disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important route for oil and gas exports, driving global energy prices higher.
Iran has reinstated its blockade of the strategic waterway, while Washington has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports.
Sources said that Tehran had also signalled it could encourage its Houthi allies in Yemen to block the Bab al-Mandeb Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea if the United States expanded attacks on Iranian infrastructure.
Last week, Iran targeted vessels transiting a shipping corridor in the Strait of Hormuz.
Responding to the latest developments, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump would not “sit by and allow these active acts of terrorism to take place in the strait without ensuring Iran pays consequences for that”.
She, however, added that the president was “always open to diplomacy at the very same time”.
According to reports, Iranian officials said Tehran’s objective was to assert greater authority over the Strait of Hormuz, although it was not seeking an escalation that could undermine the memorandum of understanding reached in June.
The renewed fighting has also heightened anxiety among residents in Iran.
“Living with this fear that war could start again is very exhausting. You cannot live like this… Personally, I want diplomacy to prevail,” Mahlegha, a 46-year-old government employee in Tehran, said.
Iran has also insisted it will maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz. Under proposals announced by Tehran, all vessels using the waterway would be required to pass through a channel close to Iran’s coastline, with passage fees introduced after a 60-day negotiation period outlined in last month’s agreement.
Meanwhile, President Trump has not ruled out deploying ground forces, including a possible operation to seize Kharg Island, Iran’s principal oil export terminal. He has also repeated threats to target Iranian power plants and bridges unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
Reuters
