The U.S. military launched airstrikes against Iranian military targets, port facilities, and air-defense systems, killing at least 14 people [2].

These attacks represent a significant escalation in tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil shipments. The U.S. government is attempting to neutralize threats to merchant shipping through a sustained campaign of kinetic strikes.

This operation marked the 12th consecutive night [1] of U.S. attacks on Iran. In addition to the deaths, at least 78 people were injured [2] during the latest wave of strikes. The targets were spread across multiple provinces, including key port areas and the region surrounding the Strait of Hormuz [2].

President Donald Trump (R-FL) said the U.S. would continue to target Iranian infrastructure if the regime persists in attacking vessels. "We will destroy a bridge or a power plant in Iran for every Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said [1]. He also said that future operations could be larger, saying, "It could be a big attack" [3].

U.S. officials said the strikes serve as a deterrent to stop the Iranian regime from threatening merchant shipping in the region [1]. Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Foreign Minister, said it was Iran that caused the U.S. attacks by targeting ships [4].

The instability in the region has already impacted global markets. Oil prices rose to a two-week high following the attacks [5]. The U.S. military continues to monitor the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the flow of commercial traffic remains uninterrupted while maintaining its offensive posture against Iranian military assets.

“"We will destroy a bridge or a power plant in Iran for every Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz,"”

The shift toward targeting civilian-adjacent infrastructure, such as bridges and power plants, signals a move away from purely military-to-military engagement. By linking the destruction of domestic Iranian infrastructure directly to the harassment of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. is employing a strategy of asymmetric deterrence designed to raise the internal political and economic cost for the Iranian regime.