Iran Strikes US Bases in Bahrain and Qatar as US Hits Southern Bridges for Sixth Night

Iran strikes on US facilities across Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan and Syria followed a sixth consecutive night of US attacks on civilian infrastructure in southern Iran that killed at least eight people. [1] The United States conducted the overnight wave of strikes on bridges, railways, power lines and a maritime control tower while Iran retaliated with missiles and drones aimed at American assets in multiple countries. [2] Reports indicated that Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar as well as Jordan and Syria took defensive measures against the Iranian projectiles. [1]

US Strikes Hit Southern Iran Infrastructure

The latest US attacks struck at least six bridges in Hormozgan province, a railway station, power lines and a maritime control tower at Shahid Kalantari Port. [2] Iranian media identified the targeted bridges as the Gariveh bridge connecting Bandar Abbas to Khmeir, a bridge near the village of Latidan, two bridges on the Kahoorestan-Lar route, a partially constructed bridge connecting Bandar e-Khamir, Keshar and Bandar Abbas, and a bridge in the village of Maru. [2] At least two people were killed and four injured by strikes on the Gariveh bridge. [5] Iran’s Ministry of Energy reported damage to power lines in Bandar Abbas and surrounding villages, which caused power outages across southern Iran. [2] Iranian state media said the tower at Shahid Kalantari Port collapsed after the third US attack on Friday. [3] Iran reported a total of 38 killed and more than 400 injured in US attacks since June 22 talks in Switzerland aimed at a 60-day negotiation period to end the conflict. [1] Health Ministry figures showed the death toll from renewed US strikes on Iran this month reached 38 with over 400 others injured, including at least eight killed and 20 injured in the overnight attacks. [4]

Iran Launches Retaliatory Attacks on Gulf States

Iran’s IRGC claimed a 13th wave of retaliatory strikes against US bases since hostilities renewed. [2] The IRGC said it hit US helicopters and reconnaissance aircraft at the Sakhir airbase in Bahrain. [1] Iran’s army also reported targeting US monitoring assets in Oman, including an air control radar in the northern Ghanim region and a maritime surveillance radar positioned on rocks in the Strait of Hormuz. [1] The IRGC declared that the critical shipping waterway remains in the hands of the IRGC Navy’s admirals. [1] The IRGC further reported hitting a US military base in Kuwait that included a missile defence radar, several key weapons depots and two HIMARS surface-to-surface missile launchers. [2] The IRGC claimed to have attacked a US special operations command centre at the al-Tanf military base in Syria. [1] Iran’s military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said the Strait of Hormuz will never return to what it was before the 40-day war. [2]

Defensive Responses and Casualties in Targeted Countries

Gulf states took defensive actions with interceptions after Iran strikes reached multiple countries. [1] In Qatar, which hosts major US military facilities, authorities issued two separate alerts after the country came under attack from Iranian projectiles including at least one missile, all of which were intercepted. [2] Qatar’s Ministry of Interior confirmed that a child who was injured by falling shrapnel during the assault is now receiving medical care. [1] Bahrain activated air raid sirens while the Ministry of Interior urged people to remain calm. [2] The Jordanian army announced its air defence systems shot down three Iranian missiles transiting its airspace, with no casualties reported as engineering teams dealt with falling debris. [1] In northern Iraq, Kurdish counterterrorism forces reported that US coalition forces shot down eight explosive drones over the city of Erbil, with no casualties reported. [1] Qatar’s security threat level was elevated after the initial alert but later returned to normal after the threats were cleared. [1]

Escalation Over Strait of Hormuz

Iranian statements emphasized continued control of the waterway amid the latest round of Iran strikes. [1] The IRGC added that the attack on Syria was in retaliation for the killing of Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr. [2] A tanker was hit by an unknown projectile on Thursday while sailing about 19 nautical miles east of Khasab, Oman. [2] Iranian military officials accused the US of destabilising the Strait of Hormuz. [2] The IEA chief warned that the Strait of Hormuz crisis threatens global energy security. [1]

Calls for Ceasefire and Negotiations

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar called on Friday for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of dialogue. [1] Both countries have sought to mediate in the months-long conflict, which rekindled with renewed fighting over the Strait of Hormuz a month after the signing of a preliminary deal aiming to end the war. [1] That agreement was hard-won, Wang said, adding that peace is before our eyes and cannot fall at the last hurdle and even more so cannot lose what we have gained. [1] In a podcast episode with Joe Rogan on Wednesday, US Vice President JD Vance said several Israeli government members tried to influence US public opinion to oppose a deal in the US war with Iran. [2] Qatar earlier rejected Israeli reports that it was planning to join military action against Iran. [1]

Background to the Renewed Conflict

The two sides met in Switzerland on June 22 for talks to end the war through a 60-day negotiation period. [1] Iran has said 38 people have been killed and more than 400 injured in the US attacks since those talks. [2] The escalating US air campaign targeted civilian infrastructure in the south of the country, including telecommunications networks, railway systems and the Bandar-e Khamir bridge in Hormozgan province. [1] Tehran has justified its strikes against Gulf and other states by saying it is targeting US facilities in the region, insisting that Washington has used its bases there as launchpads to strike Iran. [1] The US Central Command said that at 01:40 GMT on Friday it completed its latest major wave of attacks against Iran. [2]

What to watch next: China and Pakistan will continue pressing for an immediate ceasefire and return to the hard-won preliminary deal signed last month over the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran insists remains under its naval control.

Further Reading

• Syria Live Map