US launches sixth night of strikes on Iran as Tehran threatens regional destruction

The United States launched a sixth consecutive night of strikes against Iran on Thursday, targeting military installations near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz as Tehran issued its sharpest warnings yet of broader regional destruction.

Expanding Strikes Near the Strait

U.S. Central Command said its forces began a new wave of strikes at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday "to further degrade Iranian military capabilities," according to a post on X. Iranian news agencies reported explosions around Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas, Chabahar, and Bandar-e Khamir in the country's south. Fars news agency cited local authorities reporting "an American missile strike in the vicinity of Qeshm," while Tasnim said locations around the island "were struck by projectiles from the American enemy". The New York Times ↘ 5.44% reported that Qeshm Island, situated in the Strait of Hormuz, was struck Thursday afternoon.aljazeera+3

The strikes follow CENTCOM's initial justification for renewed military operations: that Iran "brazenly attacked" commercial vessels in the strait in violation of a ceasefire agreement signed last month. President Trump declared that ceasefire "over" on July 8.cnn+2

Iran's Escalating Threats

Iran's joint military command responded Thursday with a threat to destroy "all the infrastructure in the region" should the United States continue striking civilian targets. Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, spokesperson for Iran's army, declared the Strait of Hormuz an inviolable "red line" firmly under Iran's control. He warned that any U.S. attack on Iranian power infrastructure would trigger a response "more severe, broader, and more destructive than previous attacks".newindianexpress+2

The threat came in direct response to Trump's ultimatum earlier this week that the U.S. would begin targeting Iranian power plants and bridges unless Tehran returned to negotiations. Iran's foreign ministry said Wednesday it has no intention of entering talks with Washington.youtube+2

Blockade Squeezes Shipping

The reimposition of the U.S. naval blockade on Tuesday has further choked traffic through the strait. Reuters Thomson Reuters Corporation ↗ 2.92% reported that only seven vessels crossed the waterway on Wednesday, down from 13 the previous day, according to data from maritime analytics firm Kpler. Before the conflict, over 130 vessels per day transited the passage, which previously handled roughly 20 percent of global oil and gas shipments.wikipedia+1

CENTCOM said more than 20 U.S. Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft are now operating across the Middle East. On Wednesday, the U.S. military reported disabling an unoccupied oil tanker en route to Iran's Kharg Island — the first vessel rendered inoperative since the blockade's resumption.npr+1

Iran has retaliated by launching missile and drone attacks on U.S. military facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, according to Iranian state media. Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels have also exchanged fresh strikes, signaling the end of their own de facto ceasefire.cnbc+2