US strikes in southern Iran kill dozens of civilians

A renewed U.S. military campaign in southern Iran has killed dozens of civilians and wounded hundreds more over several days, marking a severe escalation that has effectively collapsed a recent peace agreement and triggered reciprocal attacks across the Middle East. The strikes, which began around July - and continued through July , have targeted Iranian military sites and, according to Iranian officials, civilian infrastructure, amid a U.S. reimposition of a naval blockade on Iran.

The Iranian Health Ministry reported that more than 30 people have been killed and over 260 wounded in the recent wave of U.S. operations. Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour stated on July that the attacks left 35 dead and injured more than 300 others, with the provinces of Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Khuzestan hardest hit. Local reports cited specific incidents, including an airstrike in Iranshahr that killed seven and attacks in Hormozgan province that killed three.

The U.S. military stated the operations are aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command announced it conducted a seven-hour wave of strikes...