The United States expanded its renewed military campaign against Iran on Friday, targeting bridges and an airport, while Tehran responded with strikes on US military bases across the Middle East.
In the Strait of Hormuz, where the latest fighting has once again disrupted global energy supplies from the region, US Marines boarded a tanker, while another vessel was reportedly struck by a projectile.
The renewed hostilities come after the collapse of last week’s ceasefire agreement, with both sides continuing to test the limits of escalation and raising fears of a return to full-scale war.
US President Donald Trump has threatened broader air strikes targeting Iran’s infrastructure and has not ruled out a possible ground assault on Iran’s coastline or islands. US officials said operations in southern Iran are intended, in part, to provide the president with additional military options.
Analysts have warned that further escalation could prompt Iran to target infrastructure in neighbouring countries or intensify attacks on shipping through allied groups in Yemen, further disrupting energy supplies.
In its latest operational update, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its recent strikes had targeted “military logistics infrastructure” in Iran, marking the first time in more than a week that it has publicly identified infrastructure among its objectives.