US Hits Iranian Bridges and Ports as Ceasefire Collapses

Global oil markets and shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz now face renewed disruption after the United States conducted a sixth consecutive night of strikes on southern Iran. The attacks hit bridges, rail facilities, and port infrastructure around Bandar Abbas and other sites in Hormozgan province, according to Iranian state media and provincial officials. US Central Command stated it struck military logistics, air defense, and coastal surveillance targets.

The strikes followed the collapse of a 60-day memorandum of understanding signed in June that had aimed to extend an earlier April ceasefire. Both sides have accused the other of violations since fighting resumed after the June 22 talks in Switzerland. Iran reported 38 civilians killed and more than 400 injured in US attacks since that date, with eight additional deaths claimed in the latest round. CENTCOM described its targets as command centers, missile sites, and maritime capabilities tied to threats against shipping.

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at US-linked facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, and Syria. Air defenses in several Gulf states intercepted projectiles; Qatar reported one child injured by shrapnel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed strikes on radars and a command center at al-Tanf in Syria. A tanker off Oman sustained minor damage from an unknown projectile, the eighth such incident in the strait in recent days.

Oil prices rose on the escalation. Brent crude gained roughly 2 percent to $86.03 per barrel and WTI rose 2.6 percent to $80.99. More than 20 percent of global oil traffic normally passes through the strait. President Trump had warned earlier in the week that infrastructure targets would follow if talks failed, while Iranian officials stated the waterway would not return to its prior status.

The pattern of strikes on transport routes that Iranian and independent analysts describe as supporting both civilian movement and military logistics has raised questions about compliance with international humanitarian law. Civilian objects are protected unless they contribute to military action, creating a disputed category of dual-use sites. No independent verification of specific damage or casualty figures beyond official statements has emerged.