U.S. airstrikes targeted dozens of Iranian sites for the sixth consecutive night, with the stated aim of crippling the regime's civilian infrastructure and forcing Iran to ease its control over the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump asserted that the U.S. is "winning big in Iran" and that the results of these actions will soon be apparent.
The strikes have reportedly destroyed several bridges, with at least seven fatalities confirmed. One of the targeted cities was Bandar Khamir, located on the coast of the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military's Central Command confirmed hitting numerous targets in the latest bombardments.
An Iranian naval surveillance tower at Chabahar port, a crucial trade route for landlocked Afghanistan, appeared to collapse during the strikes. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared an image of the tower's destruction, which had previously circulated on social media. Chabahar port, which has received support from India, has been a recurring target.
Iranian state media confirmed a third round of strikes on the port facility, though they did not immediately acknowledge the tower's collapse. While Iran described the tower as overseeing commercial traffic, the Revolutionary Guard also maintains a presence at the port.
Earlier strikes on Thursday reportedly hit areas near Tehran and Semnan province, regions associated with Iran's ballistic missile production and space program. In response, Iran launched missiles targeting U.S. bases in neighboring countries, including Qatar.
Qatar reported that its air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles, with falling debris wounding a child. Iran also targeted Bahrain and Kuwait early Friday. Explosions were also heard in Irbil and Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq's Kurdish region as air defenses engaged incoming fire, with no immediate reports of damage.
President Trump had previously threatened to target Iranian infrastructure, such as bridges and power stations, to pressure the regime regarding its actions in the vital waterway. The U.S. has also reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports to halt crude oil shipments. Maritime data indicates a significant drop in cargo shipments through the Strait of Hormuz even before the recent escalation in attacks.
Some oil shippers are reportedly navigating the strait with their location devices turned off, while others are waiting out the situation. Although pipelines are increasingly used for energy transport, they are insufficient to compensate for the decline in maritime traffic through the strait.
U.S. forces have intercepted three commercial vessels attempting to bypass the blockade, disabling one that did not comply and boarding another to ensure adherence. These renewed attacks follow the collapse of an interim ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran.
The ongoing conflict over the Strait of Hormuz, critical for global energy supplies, has raised concerns about a potential full-blown war. The escalating confrontations, initially triggered by Iran attacking cargo ships, led to the U.S. president declaring an end to the ceasefire and reinstating the naval blockade. This action has already resulted in one ship being disabled by U.S. missile fire for attempting to breach the blockade.
The strait had remained open until February 28, when the U.S. and Israel initiated military operations. In response, Iran effectively closed the waterway, disrupting global oil and gas supplies and contributing to price increases for fuel and food. The U.S. has stated its ability to strike Iran "anytime, anywhere, any place," with forces aiming to "further degrade Iranian military capabilities" as the raids intensify.