The United States struck Iranian cities for the sixth consecutive time, targeting bridges, transport infrastructure and areas closer to Tehran as the conflict entered its latest and most dangerous phase, while Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks against US allies across the Gulf, deepening fears of a broader regional war and triggering renewed concerns over global energy supplies.
The latest round of fighting saw US forces target bridges in southern Iran, a railway junction in the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas and an airport in the country’s southeast, according to Iranian state media.
Iranian authorities said at least seven people were killed in attacks on bridges in the south, while additional casualties were reported elsewhere. The strikes marked another expansion in Washington’s target list after earlier operations focused largely on military installations and naval assets linked to Iran’s campaign in the Strait of Hormuz.
For the first time in the latest escalation, US strikes also reached areas around the Iranian capital, highlighting what officials described as an effort to further degrade Tehran’s military capabilities after an interim ceasefire brokered last month collapsed under renewed fighting.
Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward several Gulf states hosting US military facilities. Bahrain and Kuwait both faced incoming fire early Friday, while Qatar said its armed forces intercepted a missile attack targeting the country. Residents in Doha reported hearing multiple explosions, and authorities issued emergency security alerts to mobile phones before confirming the interception.
The latest exchanges came after the collapse of an interim truce intended to ease tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil transit chokepoint.
Iranian officials have said recent US strikes have killed more than 35 people and wounded over 300, while Washington maintains its operations are aimed at reducing Iran’s military capabilities and protecting freedom of navigation through the Gulf.
Oil market on edge
The escalating military campaign immediately reverberated through global energy markets, with oil prices edging higher on Friday as traders assessed mounting risks to crude supplies from the Gulf.
Market sentiment remained dominated by disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, where repeated military activity has already constrained shipping movements and increased insurance costs for vessels transiting the narrow waterway linking the Gulf to international markets.
Fresh concerns emerged after reports that Tehran had instructed Yemen’s Houthi movement to stand ready to close the Red Sea export route, raising the prospect of simultaneous disruptions to two of the world’s most strategically important maritime energy corridors.
Such a scenario would threaten not only oil exports from Gulf producers but also commercial shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key gateway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal.
The dual threat has heightened concerns among traders that the conflict could evolve into a broader energy crisis if maritime traffic remains constrained for an extended period.
International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned on Thursday that the world should be concerned about energy security unless the United States and Iran quickly restore oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Gulf accounts for a substantial share of the world’s seaborne crude exports, making uninterrupted navigation through Hormuz critical to energy security across Asia, Europe and beyond.
Diplomatic efforts meanwhile appeared stalled. Pakistan, which had sought to mediate renewed talks between Washington and Tehran, has so far failed to revive negotiations after the collapse of the interim ceasefire.
