US-Iran war expands to infrastructure targets across the region

The U.S. and Iran expanded their conflict Friday by striking critical infrastructure across the Middle East, marking a significant expansion after nearly a week of sustained fighting.

The U.S. struck five bridges around the port city of Bandar Abbas overnight, Iranian state media reported, in addition to strikes on a railway junction.

A surveillance tower at Iran’s Chabahar Port also appeared to collapse after repeated attacks, according to a photo shared on social media by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

U.S. Central Command in a post on X, Friday, confirmed that U.S. forces had destroyed the surveillance tower on Thursday and added video of the strikes.

President Donald Trump had warned on Tuesday that the United States would intensify attacks on Iran, including strikes on power plants and bridges. In April, Trump threatened to blow up every bridge and power plant in the country.

Critics have argued that attacks on civilian infrastructure could violate international law, but Trump has described the attacks as militarily necessary to pressure Tehran to return to negotiations.

At least three people were killed in strikes on the Bandar Khamir bridges, according to Iranian reports. Iranian officials on Friday asked citizens to use less electricity after attacks on power infrastructure, according to The Associated Press.

In Kuwait, which hosts U.S. installations, Iran struck a power plant and a water desalination station, according to the Kuwaiti government. The attack caused a fire and damage to a large number of electrical units, officials said.

Crews were working to assess the damage and maintain the stability of the country’s electrical grid, they said.

U.S. forces surveil the Strait of Hormuz. The fight over the strait escalated Friday as the U.S. and Iran began striking critical infrastructure in the Middle East. (Pete Hegseth/X)

Friday marked the sixth consecutive day of strikes as the U.S. seeks to stop Iranian attacks on commercial shipping and limit Tehran’s ability to threaten traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

An American blockade of Iran’s ports resumed and has redirected at least three commercial vessels and disabled one, according to U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military activity in the Middle East.

Over the course of seven hours Thursday night, U.S. forces struck dozens of Iranian military targets, including coastal surveillance and air defense sites, military logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities, a CENTCOM statement said.

Meanwhile, several Persian Gulf countries reported intercepts of strikes apparently aimed at U.S. military installations in the region.

Bahrain’s interior ministry twice warned citizens to take shelter Friday morning. Jordan said it was intercepting incoming drone and missile fire from Iran.

In Qatar, authorities reported that one child was injured as a result of falling shrapnel from a missile interception.

Iran struck assorted U.S. targets, including refueling aircraft in Jordan, radar facilities in Oman and aircraft in Bahrain, according to statements posted in state media outlets.

CENTCOM on Friday denied Iranian claims that they had captured and killed Americans in an attack on the Al-Tanf garrison in Syria. No troops in the region have recently been killed or captured, the command said in a post to X.

The number of troops wounded in action during Operation Epic Fury rose from 414 to 427 on Friday afternoon, according to the Pentagon’s casualty database.

It’s unclear when or where the 13 additional injuries occurred. Iran has targeted service members in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan over the last week. CENTCOM referred questions about the recently wounded to the Pentagon, which then referred questions to CENTCOM.

The Iranian health ministry said 38 people were killed and 400 injured in U.S. strikes over the past few weeks.

Nearly a month ago, the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to end the hostilities, but the ceasefire has since collapsed. Both countries have accused each other of repeatedly violating the agreement.

Talks to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, halt Tehran’s nuclear program and end the war, which began Feb. 28, are on hold.