Iranian airport and bridges hit as US forces board ship amid ports blockade – as it happened
US-Iran Conflict: Airport and Bridges Hit in Southern Iran
American Strikes Target Critical Infrastructure
Iranian airport and bridges hit as US - The Iranian airport and bridges hit as US forces intensified their campaign against Iranian civilian targets. American military operations focused heavily on transportation networks in southern Iran, with Iranian state television confirming that multiple bridges and Iranshahr airport sustained damage during coordinated strikes. IRNA, Iran's official news agency, reported that six bridges, a railway station, and a port control tower were among the primary targets of the American bombardment.
The overnight attacks claimed eight lives and injured twenty others according to Iran's health ministry. The damaged bridges formed a vital transit corridor for Bandar Abbas, Iran's main maritime gateway, potentially disrupting regional trade and supply chains.
Additional American aerial operations destroyed a tower at Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman while targeting electrical infrastructure and the airport. Iran's energy ministry advised citizens to reduce electricity and air conditioning usage, noting that southern regions faced both extreme heat and infrastructure damage simultaneously.
Iranian Response and Regional Escalation
Iran quickly retaliated by striking Middle Eastern nations hosting American military installations. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Qatar, warning that further devastating attacks would follow if American forces continued their assault on Iranian civilian infrastructure.
"The IRGC announced it had targeted American radar systems and military aircraft in Qatar as punishment for what it described as aggression. Doha confirmed intercepting a missile attack during these operations."
The IRGC also claimed responsibility for targeting American fighter jets and tankers in Jordan, asserting that several US refueling aircraft and warplanes were destroyed while many others sustained serious damage. The United States did not immediately respond to these claims.
Kuwait's energy ministry reported that one of its power and water desalination plants came under Iranian attack, resulting in fire and structural damage. Meanwhile, the Jordanian military announced it successfully shot down three incoming missiles launched by Iran during morning hours.
Regional Developments and International Response
Majid Mousavi, aerospace chief for the IRGC, declared in a statement published by Iranian state media that Iranian strikes would persist until peace was restored to the southern coastline and the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasized that operations would continue until this objective was achieved.
The prime minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, Masrour Barzani, publicly condemned what he characterized as unjustified attacks on the region, placing responsibility on Iran. His statement, issued through his office, called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to stop the escalation while urging the Iraqi federal government and international community to end these violations.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported an incident involving a tanker and military forces off the coast of Oman. According to UKMTO, the tanker was subject to interaction as part of ongoing military activity in the region. The agency specified that the incident occurred approximately 100 nautical miles, or about 115 miles, east of the Omani port of Duqm.
Kuwaiti army chief of staff Khaled al-Shuraian visited soldiers injured in Iranian attacks, according to the country's official Kuna news agency. While the report did not specify the number of wounded personnel, it confirmed they had been targeted during morning strikes against several military facilities and camps. The Kuwaiti armed forces had previously announced on Tuesday that one of its naval vessels had been struck during an Iranian missile and drone barrage, resulting in injuries to four crew members.
Human rights experts have noted that strikes on civilian infrastructure not being utilized for military purposes could potentially constitute war crimes under international law. The expanding aerial campaign against Iran has prompted a cascade of retaliatory actions across the Middle East, with the Iranian airport and bridges hit serving as focal points in this growing regional conflict.