US strikes widen scope in Iran as ceasefire collapses
Deadly overnight attacks on an airport, railway station and bridges mark a significant intensification of hostilities following the breakdown of last month’s interim truce.
The United States has intensified its military campaign against Iran, launching a second wave of strikes that targeted critical infrastructure in the south and reached the vicinity of Tehran for the first time. According to Iranian state media, overnight attacks hit an airport in Iranshahr, the Bandar Abbas Railway Junction Station, and two bridges near the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation signals a widening scope of US military operations as the interim ceasefire agreed to last month has effectively collapsed.
Iranian state television, IRIB, reported that three explosions were heard around the Iranshahr airport in the southeast, with at least one American projectile striking the facility. Simultaneously, the Mehr news agency confirmed that the Bandar Abbas Railway Junction Station was targeted, resulting in two injuries. These strikes follow a period of reciprocal fire across multiple locations, including Qeshm Island, Chabahar, and Bandar-e Khamir, as both nations battle for control of the vital waterway.
The United States stated that the objective of the late Thursday attacks was to “further degrade” Iran’s military capabilities. This effort included striking a ship accused of attempting to breach a US naval blockade. The targeting of areas farther north than previous engagements, including the outskirts of the capital, indicates a strategic shift in the intensity and reach of the US offensive.
Casualty figures provided by Iranian officials indicate that US strikes have killed more than 35 people and wounded over 300 others. The violence has been characterised by a rapid exchange of fire, with Tehran claiming it had struck US military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain in response to attacks near Bushehr, the site of a nuclear power plant.
Iran has retaliated with missiles and drones targeting US allies in the region, with officials warning that these attacks may escalate further. The breakdown of the diplomatic truce has left the region in a state of heightened tension, with the conflict now centred on the strategic control of the Strait of Hormuz and the degradation of opposing military assets.
