Washington: US military operations against Iran have intensified, targeting various strategic sites throughout the nation. This escalation comes as Iran retaliates by striking US allies in the Gulf region, further destabilizing an already fragile cease-fire.

According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces launched a series of strikes against Iran for the seventh consecutive night. These operations aim to degrade Iranian military capabilities, as directed by the Commander in Chief. The latest wave of US attacks, which concluded around 5 a.m. Iran time, focused on surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities, utilizing fighter aircraft, aerial drones, and warships.

Iranian state-run media reported that US forces extended their attacks beyond the strategic Strait of Hormuz to areas such as Yazd, Ahvaz, and Khuzestan Province. The attacks reportedly blocked major transportation routes, including roads, bridges, and a transport tunnel. In the southern port of Bandar Khamir, strikes on bridges resulted in seven fatalities, with significant damage to the train station and an airport in Iranshahr.

The situation has triggered a strong response from Iranian military officials. Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, warned that Iran is prepared to initiate "full-scale offensive operations" if US strikes persist. Rezaei emphasized that Iran's responses will no longer be limited to retaliatory actions.

Compounding the crisis, US-allied Gulf states reported Iranian missile and drone strikes, leading to injuries and damage to civilian infrastructure. Kuwait's Army confirmed injuries among its Land Force personnel and damage to a power-generation facility following Iranian drone attacks. Meanwhile, Iran's navy reportedly fired a cruise missile at a US vessel in the northern Indian Ocean, causing the ship to retreat.

The renewed hostilities have severely impacted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global crude oil and gas supplies. According to data from Kpler, the number of ships passing through the strait has plummeted, with only eight vessels recorded on July 16. This marks a sharp decline from the usual daily average of over 100 vessels before the conflict escalated.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the escalating situation, particularly the impact on civilian infrastructure in Iran and the Gulf region. The international community remains on high alert as tensions between the US and Iran threaten to spiral into a broader conflict.