U.S. military forces launched another round of strikes against Iran on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of attacks. According to U.S. Central Command, the operations targeted military and commercial infrastructure designed to degrade Iran’s capacity to threaten civilian shipping and commercial vessels operating in regional waters. The campaign aims to restore American control over strategic shipping lanes through which significant portions of global energy supplies transit.
Iranian state media reported explosions in multiple locations including Bandar Abbas, a major port city, as well as Qeshm Island and areas near Andimeshk, Omidiyeh, and Firuzabad. According to Iranian health ministry statements, 55 people have been killed and 629 wounded since renewed U.S. airstrikes commenced on June 27. The latest strikes occurred shortly before 5 a.m. local time Friday.
The escalation coincided with reported attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who announced they had targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The Houthis declared a blockade of Saudi-linked shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier in the week, citing Saudi Arabia’s blockade on Yemen and a recent attack on Sanaa’s international airport. International crude oil prices spiked more than 6 percent to approximately $100 per barrel following these developments.
The conflict has prompted diplomatic intervention, with Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi visiting Tehran to advocate for peace talks. President Trump threatened major military action against the Houthis and indicated that sanctioned Iranian funds held by the U.S. would cover expenses for vessels damaged during the conflict. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi criticized such asset seizure as an incendiary precedent, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the price would escalate nightly until Iran changes course.
The disruptions to major shipping routes have created significant economic ramifications, with energy infrastructure and desalination plants in neighboring Gulf countries targeted in Iranian response operations. A House resolution to halt the war passed narrowly Thursday, though the measure remained largely symbolic.
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