A series of explosions occurred near a military base hosting U.S. forces in northern Iraq on Friday, according to reports from the Associated Press. The blasts took place hours after the U.S. military announced the conclusion of its 13th night of strikes targeting Iran.
Journalists in Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, reported hearing at least seven explosions around 9:30 a.m. local time. At least four plumes of black smoke were observed rising from areas near or within the base.
The escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran began with a dispute over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported that four people were killed and nine injured during the recent U.S. bombardment.
U.S. Central Command stated that the latest barrage was intended to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters.” The strikes were aimed at regaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas transit. The military operations reportedly concluded shortly before 5 a.m. local time.
In response to the heightened tensions, Bahrain activated its sirens twice on Friday morning, warning residents to take shelter from incoming fire. Other Gulf states have also reported receiving fire over the past week.
Earlier, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for targeting two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, a move that could further broaden the conflict and has contributed to international oil prices exceeding $100 a barrel.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, whose country maintains close ties with both the U.S. and Iran, was in Tehran on Thursday advocating for peace and dialogue. His office stated he would not permit Iraqi territory to be used for attacks against Iran. Al-Zaidi had met with President Donald Trump in Washington earlier in the month.
U.S. strikes reportedly hit a naval base belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guard in the northern part of the country, according to Iranian news outlets Fars and ISNA. Explosions were also reported overnight on Qeshm Island, a location known for housing naval assets including drone boats, and in Isfahan province, which contains a major Iranian air base and a nuclear site.
Further strikes were reported in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province and southern Fars province. Iranian state media indicated that four individuals were killed and five wounded in a U.S. missile attack near Ahvaz on the Karun River. In Lorestan province, two people were injured, while two others sustained injuries from explosions in the port city of Bandar Abbas.
The Houthi threat to disrupt shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital trade route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, adds another layer of economic risk. Approximately 12 percent of the world's trade and a quarter of global container traffic passes through this strait.
Maritime data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence noted that Houthi attacks on oil shipments from Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port could create a “double whammy” on top of the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has been rerouting millions of barrels of oil daily to Yanbu via an overland pipeline due to the conflict.
President Trump issued a warning of “major military punishment” against the Houthis if their attacks on ships persist. The escalating rhetoric has coincided with significant economic consequences, including a more than 6 percent spike in Brent crude oil prices, reaching approximately $100 a barrel, the highest since May.
Iran asserts its right to manage traffic and potentially levy fees in the Strait of Hormuz, a route that was previously open and toll-free. The country has targeted ships navigating a route within the strait overseen by U.S. forces.
President Trump announced on social media that sanctioned Iranian funds held by the U.S. would be used to cover repair costs for vessels damaged in the conflict. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned this proposal, warning that normalizing asset confiscation could lead to widespread instability.