US Launches New Wave of Strikes Against Iran Amid Escalating Tensions in Strait of Hormuz

The United States conducted a sixth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian military targets, marking a significant escalation in hostilities over the Strait of Hormuz, according to US Central Command (Centcom). The strikes, which targeted “coastal surveillance and air defense sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities,” come amid heightened tensions following Iran’s accusations of attacks on civilian infrastructure, including bridges and an airport.

US Strikes Target Iranian Military Sites

Centcom confirmed the latest round of strikes, which concluded in the early hours of Friday. The attacks focused on “dozens of Iranian military targets,” including facilities near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. The US military stated the operation aimed to “further degrade Iranian military capabilities,” though it did not explicitly mention attacks on civilian infrastructure in its official statement.

Reports indicate that US missiles struck areas near the island of Qeshm, as well as in Bandar Abbas and Bushehr, home to Iran’s only nuclear power plant. A BBC correspondent verified an attack on a bridge west of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province, though Centcom’s list of targets did not include bridges.

Iran Accuses US of Attacking Civilian Infrastructure

Iran’s state media alleged that the US targeted civilian infrastructure, including bridges, a train station, and an airport. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for strikes on US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, accusing the US of attacking Iranshahr Airport and a railway station in Bandar Khamir, along with five bridges in a port city. Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported seven deaths from the strikes.

The US has not publicly confirmed these allegations.

International Reactions and Legal Concerns

Following President Donald Trump’s 2019 threat to bomb Iranian bridges and power plants, UN human rights chief Volker Türk warned that targeting civilian infrastructure constitutes a “war crime” under the 1949 Geneva Conventions. The conventions prohibit attacks on sites essential for civilian life, such as bridges and airports.

Historical Context and Escalation Risks