US strikes railway bridge in Iran on China-Russia corridor

United States military forces struck a strategic railway bridge in northern Iran on July 8, 2026, targeting a critical overland trade corridor connecting Iran with China and Russia. The attack on the Agh Tappeh Khan bridge in Golestan Province represents a significant escalation and a geographic shift in U.S. operations, marking one of the deepest strikes inside Iranian territory since the resumption of hostilities.

According to Iranian state media, the bridge is a key node on the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway route, an integral part of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The corridor has grown in strategic importance for Iran, particularly after maritime disruptions and a blockade of its Gulf ports, with reports indicating rail traffic tripled as an alternative. Since late 2025, Russia has also used the route to transport goods into Iran. Iranian authorities reported that repair crews completed work on the damaged bridge within 13 hours, though the strike initially disrupted passenger services between Tehran and Mashhad.

The U.S. military confirmed the strikes were part of broader operations aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the...