U.S. airstrikes destroy six bridges in Iran, sixth night

The United States conducted a sixth consecutive night of airstrikes in southern Iran, targeting critical transportation infrastructure in an escalation aimed at severing military supply routes to the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The attacks, which occurred overnight on July 17, damaged or destroyed at least six road bridges in Hormozgan province, specifically in the Bandar Khamir area west of the port city of Bandar Abbas.

U.S. military officials stated the strikes targeted dozens of Iranian military sites, including coastal surveillance, air defense systems, and military logistics infrastructure. The Pentagon said the operation was intended to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil passes. A key objective was to isolate Bandar Abbas, which houses Iran's largest commercial port and a major naval base for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. The damaged bridges form part of the road network connecting Bandar Abbas to inland areas, including the major city of Shiraz.

Iranian state media reported the bridges as civilian infrastructure and said the attacks resulted in casualties....