US strikes hit Iran ports and bridges; Tehran launches missiles across Gulf

US Broadens Offensive with Port and Bridge Strikes

The United States has expanded its military offensive against Iran, launching fresh airstrikes that targeted key port facilities and bridges inside the country. The strikes, announced by the Pentagon late Friday, are intended to 'swiftly punish' Iran for its role in an attack that killed American troops in Jordan earlier this week.

The new wave of bombings marks a significant escalation in the conflict, moving beyond earlier strikes on Iranian military positions. Ports along the Persian Gulf coast and several strategic bridges on major supply routes were hit. US officials said the goal is to cripple Iran's ability to move weapons and reinforcements.

Local reports from inside Iran describe scenes of panic. Residents in coastal cities reported hearing loud explosions. The New York Times quoted some as saying they feel 'isolated and scared.'

Tehran Fires Missiles Across the Gulf

Iran responded swiftly. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed it launched a salvo of ballistic missiles across the Persian Gulf. The missiles appeared aimed at US naval assets and military bases in the region, though initial reports suggested most were intercepted by US and allied air defense systems.

No immediate casualty figures were available from either side. The IRGC warned it would continue targeting US positions if the airstrikes did not stop. The exchange has turned the Persian Gulf into a live conflict zone, with commercial shipping traffic advised to stay clear.

State television in Iran broadcast images of damaged port cranes and collapsed bridge sections, calling the US action a 'war crime.' The Iranian foreign ministry summoned the Swiss ambassador, who represents US interests in Tehran, to lodge a formal protest.

Context: The Spark in Jordan

The current escalation began with a drone attack on a US logistics base in Jordan last week. That attack killed three American soldiers and wounded dozens more. The US blamed Iran-backed militias for the strike, though Tehran denied direct involvement.

President Joe Biden had vowed a 'forceful response.' The initial US strikes targeted IRGC facilities in Syria and Iraq. Now, the offensive has moved inside Iran itself. The strikes on ports and bridges are designed to disrupt supply chains that the US believes are used to arm proxy groups in Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon.

Analysts say the US is walking a tightrope: trying to inflict enough pain to deter future attacks without triggering a full-scale regional war that could draw in other powers like Russia or China. Iran, for its part, has signaled it does not want a direct war but will not back down from defending its soil.

On the Ground: Fear and Uncertainty

In cities near the targeted ports, residents described a night of terror. 'The ground shook like an earthquake,' one man told a local journalist. Hospitals in the region were put on high alert, though official casualty numbers have not been released.

The strikes have deepened the sense of isolation among ordinary Iranians, already reeling from economic sanctions and political unrest. Many took to social media to express anger at both the US attacks and their own government's response.

International reactions have been mixed. The European Union called for 'immediate restraint' and offered to mediate. Russia condemned the US strikes as a 'violation of international law.' China urged both sides to avoid further escalation.

What comes next is uncertain. The US has said the strikes will continue until Iran stops targeting American forces. Tehran has vowed to retaliate for every strike. The world is watching to see if this cycle of attack and counter-attack can be broken before it spirals into a wider war.