The United States launched its sixth consecutive night of airstrikes against targets across southern Iran late Thursday, hitting critical bridges, a railway junction, an airport, and residential neighborhoods, as Iranian officials reported mounting civilian casualties and warned of a sweeping military response against regional infrastructure.
In Hormozgan province, American warplanes struck three bridges in the Khamir county area, including the strategically vital Khamir Bridge, which connects the coastal city of Bandar Abbas to Lar in Fars province. According to Iranian officials, the attacks occurred while vehicles were traversing the structures, sending several plunging off the roadways. At least seven people were killed and nine others wounded in the bridge strikes, according to provincial authorities.
The bombardment also targeted a residential district in the port city of Bandar Abbas, where at least one civilian was killed and eight others sustained injuries. Separately, US forces struck the city’s railway junction, wounding two individuals and disrupting rail services. Explosions were reported near Bandar Abbas Airport, with at least one projectile impacting the facility.
On Kish Island, the strikes caused a malfunction at a local electrical substation, triggering a widespread power outage across the island. Further east, American warplanes targeted Iranshahr Airport in Sistan and Baluchestan province, where three explosions were heard near the facility. That attack injured at least one person and caused significant damage to the airport’s power infrastructure and fuel storage tanks.
Civilian Toll Mounts
Iran’s Health Ministry has documented at least 35 civilian fatalities, including women and children, since the current wave of US strikes began, with more than 300 others wounded. The bombardments mark a sharp escalation in what Tehran describes as an unprovoked campaign of aggression that has now entered its second week.
US Naval Blockade Intensifies
The United States has simultaneously tightened its maritime grip on Iranian ports, reimposing a naval blockade across strategic entry points. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American naval forces had redirected three commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade. In one instance, forces disabled a vessel that failed to comply with orders, and in another, they boarded a ship for verification purposes, citing enforcement of international sanctions.
Iran Issues Stark Ultimatum, Launches Retaliatory Strikes
In response to the intensified US campaign, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army announced they have launched retaliatory strikes on American military installations across the Persian Gulf region. While specific details of the counter-strikes remain under wraps, Iranian military officials confirmed that US assets in the region have been targeted.
The escalation prompted a fierce warning from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters. A spokesman for the command issued a stark ultimatum: any further US attack on Iranian infrastructure will be met with the wholesale destruction of all adversary infrastructure across the region.
“The enemy must understand that if they target even a single piece of Iranian infrastructure, everything that has so far remained untouched solely because of Iran’s restraint—every piece of infrastructure throughout the region—will be destroyed,” the spokesman declared.
Conflict Background and Agreement Violations
The current hostilities trace back to February 28, when the United States and Israel launched their initial military offensive against Iran—a campaign that resulted in the martyrdom of late Leader Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian state media, fundamentally altering the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
Diplomatic efforts had appeared to yield progress on June 17, when a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed, intended to lay the groundwork for a permanent peace settlement. However, Tehran has accused Washington of systematically violating the accord, recording at least 42 significant breaches to date, including the reimposition of crippling oil sanctions and continued military strikes. Iranian officials have declared that the Islamic Republic will no longer be bound by the agreement if US violations persist.
A Region on the Brink
With the US pushing forward with its military campaign and Iran vowing asymmetrical regional retaliation, the Persian Gulf and broader Middle East appear poised on the edge of a wider conflict. Diplomatic channels remain largely silent as both sides continue to harden their positions, raising fears of an uncontrollable spiral into full-scale war.
Source: Iranian media (edite dby Al-Manar)