US strikes hit Iran for seventh consecutive night as Middle East conflict deepens

US strikes hit Iran for seventh consecutive night as Middle East conflict deepens

The United States has launched a seventh consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran, targeting military infrastructure and strategic assets as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate, raising fears of a broader conflict across the Middle East and threatening global energy security.

The latest military operation came after US President Donald Trump declared that the temporary ceasefire reached between the two countries in June was “over,” following the collapse of diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces struck surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage facilities and maritime capabilities across multiple locations in Iran.

CENTCOM said the operation concluded after several hours of coordinated attacks involving fighter jets, armed drones, warships and other precision strike systems, describing the mission as part of efforts to weaken Iran’s military capabilities and protect US interests and allies in the region.

The latest strikes reportedly hit areas around Yazd, Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas and other strategic locations, with Iranian state media reporting multiple explosions.

Images and videos circulating online showed damage near the Shahid Mirzaei twin tunnels north of Bandar Abbas, while local authorities reported that attacks on electricity infrastructure and desalination facilities near Jask disrupted drinking water supplies for about 10,000 residents across 20 villages.

Iranian officials also disclosed that more than 100 telecommunications towers were knocked out of service in parts of Hormozgan Province, disrupting mobile, internet and landline communications.

In response, Iran launched fresh missile and drone attacks targeting countries hosting US military assets in the Gulf.

Authorities in Kuwait said Iranian strikes damaged a power generation and water desalination facility, triggering a fire that forced the shutdown of several electricity generation units.

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Kuwait’s state news agency later reported that an oil facility also sustained significant damage during repeated attacks, while several people were reportedly injured.

Meanwhile, Jordan said its air defence systems intercepted 10 Iranian missiles that entered its airspace overnight, preventing damage on the ground.

Bahrain also announced that its air defence forces successfully intercepted Iranian projectiles aimed at its territory.

The renewed fighting follows the collapse of a ceasefire agreement reached in June to facilitate negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Although the truce initially reduced hostilities, tensions resurfaced after Iran allegedly targeted commercial oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that vessels obtain Tehran’s approval before passing through the strategic waterway.

The United States subsequently resumed military operations and reinforced restrictions around Iranian ports, while Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to shipping.

The waterway remains one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying roughly 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. The disruption has heightened concerns over global energy supplies and contributed to renewed volatility in international oil markets.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that prolonged instability around the Strait could significantly affect global energy security and international trade.

Iran has also claimed responsibility for attacks on US military facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Syria, although Washington has disputed several of Tehran’s claims.

US officials acknowledged that several American service members were injured during recent Iranian attacks on military installations in Jordan but maintained that US operations have been directed exclusively at military objectives.

The White House rejected allegations that American forces deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, insisting that military planners focused on logistics facilities, surveillance systems and assets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also confirmed that American forces destroyed a control tower at the port of Chabahar, describing it as part of an IRGC maritime surveillance network used to monitor shipping movements around the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest escalation has prompted renewed international calls for restraint, with governments and diplomatic organisations warning that continued military exchanges could trigger a wider regional conflict involving additional countries.

Security analysts say the confrontation now represents one of the most serious geopolitical crises in the Middle East in recent years, with potential consequences for global trade, energy markets and international security.

With neither Washington nor Tehran signalling an immediate willingness to de-escalate, concerns continue to grow that the conflict could intensify further in the coming days.

US strikes hit Iran for seventh consecutive night as Middle East conflict deepens