Washington: US military operations against Iran have intensified, targeting multiple sites across central and southern Iran, as the conflict continues to expand beyond the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian military has responded by targeting US Gulf allies, straining the already fragile ceasefire. According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that its forces launched strikes against Iran for the seventh consecutive night, aiming to degrade Iranian military capabilities. The operation, involving fighter aircraft, drones, and warships, targeted surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities. CENTCOM reported that the wave of attacks concluded six and a half hours later. Iranian state media reported that US forces, including jet fighters, conducted attacks along the Strait of Hormuz and other regions, such as Yazd, Ahvaz, and Khuzestan Province. These attacks reportedly blocked transportation routes in Hormozgan P rovince, impacting major roads, bridges, and a transport tunnel. In the southern port city of Bandar Khamir, at least seven fatalities were reported following attacks on bridges and the train station. An airport in Iranshahr was also targeted. Meanwhile, Iranian Major General Mohsen Rezaei issued a warning that Tehran is prepared to initiate "full-scale offensive operations" if US strikes persist for another two to three days. Rezaei, a senior advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, stated that Iran would expand its military responses beyond retaliatory actions. The escalation has also affected US-allied Gulf states, with reports of Iranian missile and drone strikes causing injuries and damage to civilian infrastructure. The Kuwaiti Army reported injuries among personnel following drone strikes on military facilities, while a fire damaged power-generation units at a plant. Additionally, Iran's navy launched a cruise missile at a US vessel in the northern Indian Ocean, prompting concerns from the UN Secretary-General about the increasing violence. CENTCOM has implemented a blockade of Iranian ports, redirecting commercial vessels and boarding ships to ensure compliance. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly decreased, with only eight ships passing on July 16, highlighting the impact of the ongoing conflict on global oil and gas supplies.
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