U.S. strikes Iranian infrastructure as Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate
13 reported3 unconfirmed
The United States conducted a seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran on Friday, targeting bridges, surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities, according to U.S. Central Command. The strikes are part of a campaign to pressure Tehran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping traffic has largely halted. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responded with missile and drone attacks on U.S. allies, including a strike on a Syrian base and an attack on water infrastructure in Kuwait. The Guards also claimed to have stopped four ships through the strait using a combined missile and drone operation, though the U.S. military did not immediately comment. At least eight people were killed and 20 injured in the U.S. strikes, Iranian state media reported, with damage to bridges, a railway junction, power infrastructure, and a maritime control tower. President Donald Trump stated the war was going well, while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran wants to make a deal with the U.S.
What’s reported
U.S. Central Command announced a round of strikes at 3 p.m. ET Friday for the seventh consecutive night, concluding at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Targets included surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they stopped four ships through the Strait of Hormuz with a combined missile and drone operation.
Iran responded with attacks on U.S. allies, including a Syrian base and water infrastructure in Kuwait.
At least eight people were killed and 20 injured in the U.S. strikes, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA.
At least six bridges were hit, including one under construction, and a railway junction station west of Bandar Abbas was struck.
Iran acknowledged attacks on power infrastructure for the first time Friday, with the Energy Ministry asking people in southern provinces to use less electricity.
A maritime control tower in Chabahar was damaged; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a picture of the tower collapsing.
A child was injured from falling shrapnel in Qatar during interception operations, according to Qatar’s Interior Ministry.
Kuwait’s water and electricity ministry said a power and water desalination plant was targeted, resulting in a fire and damage to several power generation units.
Daily traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dwindled to 8 ships on Thursday, down from 15 the day before, according to Kpler.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran wants to make a deal with the U.S., and that U.S. strikes were in response to Iran firing on commercial vessels.
President Trump said the war was going well and hailed the release of an American citizen, Dena Karari, imprisoned since 2024.
Open questions
Whether the Revolutionary Guards’ claim of stopping four ships is accurate, as the U.S. military did not immediately comment.
The full extent of damage to Iranian infrastructure and civilian areas.
Whether communication channels between Washington and Tehran remain open beyond the reported release of an American citizen.
Key figures
President Donald Trump
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt
Dena Karari (American citizen released from Iran)
Sources: NBC News
