The United States and Iran intensified their military campaign across the Middle East on Friday, exchanging fresh strikes on military and strategic infrastructure as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz continued to escalate.
The United States expanded its offensive by targeting bridges, energy facilities and a surveillance tower at Iran's strategic Chabahar port, a key commercial gateway on the Gulf of Oman. The strikes come as President Donald Trump has vowed to increase pressure on Tehran over its control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas shipments.
Iran responded by launching missile attacks at U.S.-aligned countries, including Qatar and Kuwait. Kuwaiti authorities said a missile strike damaged a desalination plant, disrupting a key source of drinking water, while Qatar reported injuries caused by debris after its air defence systems intercepted incoming missiles.
With an earlier ceasefire having collapsed, the conflict—now in its fifth month—shows little sign of easing, with both sides continuing to target military and strategic infrastructure.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday's operation marked the seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military assets. According to the U.S. military, the attacks targeted surveillance facilities, logistics hubs, underground weapons depots and maritime infrastructure.
Iranian officials said recent U.S. strikes had killed dozens of civilians and injured hundreds more, while the Pentagon confirmed additional casualties among American service members.
Early Saturday, Iranian media claimed two oil tankers exploded after entering what it described as a mined section of the Strait of Hormuz. No evidence was provided, and CENTCOM rejected the claim as false.
Since the conflict began in late February, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted, driving global oil prices above $86 per barrel and reducing vessel traffic to its lowest level in weeks, according to maritime tracking data.
Bridges and Energy Facilities Hit
Iranian state media reported that overnight U.S. airstrikes hit several bridges in Hormozgan province, including routes linking Bandar Abbas—Iran's largest commercial port—to inland regions. Attacks also struck Bandar Khamir along the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Energy Ministry confirmed damage to electricity infrastructure for the first time, urging residents in southern provinces to conserve power during extreme summer temperatures, though it did not specify which facilities had been affected.
Iranian authorities said at least 46 people were killed and more than 400 injured in recent U.S. strikes, including eight deaths in Friday's bridge attacks.
The Pentagon, meanwhile, said 13 additional U.S. service members were wounded this week, bringing total American military casualties since the conflict began to 14 killed and 427 injured.
Chabahar Port Targeted
Friday's strikes also destroyed a surveillance tower at Chabahar port. Iranian officials described the facility as part of the port's commercial infrastructure, while CENTCOM said it had been used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to monitor commercial shipping and identify maritime targets.
Iranian media later reported explosions in several provinces, including Khuzestan, Fars, Yazd and Hormozgan, although authorities released few details.
Iran Expands Retaliatory Attacks
Iran broadened its retaliation by launching missiles toward Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Qatar activated its air defences twice, with one child reportedly injured by falling debris.
Kuwaiti officials said a missile strike damaged a power and desalination facility and that separate Iranian drone attacks on military sites wounded several personnel.
Jordan's military said it intercepted three Iranian missiles, while authorities in northern Iraq reported explosions in the Kurdish region. Local officials said an attack targeting the Iranian Kurdish opposition group Komala killed at least nine people.
British maritime authorities also reported that a commercial tanker sustained minor damage while transiting the Strait of Hormuz near Oman. No injuries were reported.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Flashpoint
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the conflict. Iran maintains that the strategic waterway falls under its authority and has argued that vessels using the route should pay transit fees, despite international recognition of the strait as a global shipping lane.
President Trump has repeatedly threatened further strikes on Iranian infrastructure to pressure Tehran into easing restrictions on maritime traffic. The United States has also tightened measures aimed at limiting Iran's oil exports.
Although some regional producers have shifted exports to pipeline networks, analysts say these alternatives cannot replace the capacity of the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and natural gas trade.
