US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed its forces carried out a seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran, targeting surveillance sites, underground weapons storage facilities, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime assets. The operations concluded at 21:30 ET, utilizing fighter aircraft, aerial drones, and warships, according to a Centcom statement posted on X.
US Strikes Follow Collapse of Ceasefire
The strikes came after President Donald Trump declared that a temporary ceasefire agreement was no longer in effect. Iran claimed to have retaliated by targeting US allies in the Gulf region. Kuwait's military reported its air defenses were actively engaged against 'hostile missile and drone attacks' following what it described as 'Iranian aggression.' Kuwaiti officials confirmed that Iranian drone strikes injured a number of soldiers and caused damage to a power plant and water desalination stations. Jordan also reported its forces intercepted 10 Iranian missiles that had entered its airspace overnight, with no ground damage recorded.
Strait of Hormuz Shipping Halted
Explosions were reported in the Iranian city of Yazd, on Qeshm island, and at the port of Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media. Iran's state-run Fars agency alleged that two oil tankers had caught fire after passing through a mined route south of the strait. Centcom dismissed the claim outright, posting on X: 'Like most IRGC claims, this is false.' Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely ground to a halt amid the ongoing exchange of strikes. Under normal conditions, the strait handles roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, raising significant concerns for global energy markets.
Civilian Infrastructure Claims Disputed
Washington denied Iranian assertions that US strikes had hit civilian targets, including bridges, a railway station, and an airport in Hormozgan province. A White House spokesperson told the BBC that the US had 'carried out strikes exclusively on military targets, including military logistics infrastructure.' However, provincial authorities in Hormozgan province said seven people had been killed. BBC Verify and BBC Persian verified footage showing damage to Gariveh Bridge, with daytime images revealing a collapsed section of road and rubble. Iran separately claimed on Friday that its forces had struck multiple US military installations across Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Syria, the latter targeted for the first time. The US denied these claims. Sources told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that several American service members sustained injuries during Iranian attacks on two Jordanian bases over the past week.
One Week of Strikes Amid Stalled Talks
Friday marked one full week since nightly US strikes began, following the collapse of peace talks. Efforts to broker a permanent ceasefire have been complicated by mounting tensions over access to the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had previously announced the closure of the shipping route again, accusing Israel of violating a ceasefire arrangement linked to ending the wider Middle East conflict. The decision was announced by Iran's central military command, citing a breach of agreement by the United States and continued Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon.
