Day 139 | US launches fresh strikes on Iran as Tehran vows retaliation

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Read more: Day 140 | Sixth night of US strikes as Iran vows retaliation and targets US assets

Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that traffic has been suspended on the Bandar Abbas–Kahoorstan–Lar route following a reported US strike on the Shoor River Bridge in Hormozgan province.

The report said the bridge was targeted during US attacks, disrupting movement along the key road connecting areas in southern Iran.

Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that US attacks targeted the Kahoorstan Bridge in Bandar Khamir County, damaging a key road connection in southern Iran.

According to the report, the strike occurred at around 11:00pm and targeted the bridge linking the Bandar Abbas and Lar areas.

Iranian road maintenance teams are currently working to establish an alternative route to replace the damaged section of the road, Tasnim reported.

Explosions were reported in several locations across southern Iran following renewed US strikes, according to Iranian state and semi-official media outlets.

Iran's IRNA news agency reported two explosions in the southern city of Bushehr. Iranian state television also reported eight explosions near the village of Masan on Qeshm Island, saying they followed US airstrikes.

The Mehr news agency later reported 10 additional explosions on Qeshm Island, while Tasnim news agency said a communications tower on a hill in Bandar Abbas was targeted, causing a power outage in the area.

Tasnim also reported that 7 people were injured in a US attack on an area of Bandar Abbas.

Explosions were reported in the southern Iranian cities of Bushehr and Ahvaz, according to Iran's IRNA news agency.

The reported blasts came shortly after the United States announced it had launched a sixth consecutive round of strikes targeting Iran.

Kuwait's Ministry of Defense said the country's armed forces intercepted 32 hostile drones that entered Kuwaiti airspace since early Thursday.

In a statement, official spokesperson Col. Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi said the drones were detected and intercepted as part of ongoing air defense operations.

The ministry said the Iranian attack targeted several vital facilities across the country. It added that debris from intercepted drones fell in several residential areas, causing material damage but no reported injuries.

Kuwait's armed forces said they remain on high alert and will continue carrying out their duties to safeguard the country's security and protect citizens and residents.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it has launched a new round of airstrikes targeting Iran, marking the fifth consecutive night of military operations.

In a statement, CENTCOM said the latest strikes are intended to further weaken Iran's military capabilities as part of the ongoing US campaign.

US President Donald Trump remains willing to pursue diplomacy with Iran despite recent tensions, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Speaking to reporters, Leavitt claimed Iran's economy and military have suffered "devastating blows" but said the president is still open to negotiations.

"The president is always open and willing to diplomacy," she said, adding that the United States entered a diplomatic phase after "Operation Epic Fury," but alleged that Iran later violated the understanding.

Leavitt also claimed Trump has demonstrated that the United States can strike Iran "at any time" and asserted that Tehran is unable to defend itself.

Qatar has "categorically rejected" reports by ‘Israeli’ media claiming that it agreed to participate in military action against Iran.

In a statement, Qatar’s International Media Office said the country "will not allow such misleading allegations to undermine its active diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to an end."

The statement reaffirmed Doha’s position that it is focused on diplomatic efforts and rejected what it described as inaccurate claims about its role in the regional escalation.

Bahrain’s coastguard has imposed new restrictions on vessel traffic within the country’s territorial waters, according to an official announcement.

The directive prohibits the movement of all vessels from 6:30pm until 4am local time, with the restricted period corresponding to 15:30–01:00 GMT.

Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said there are no US military bases in the country, stressing that the American military presence is limited to personnel operating under long-standing defense cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking during a dialogue session at the Aspen Security Forum in the United States, Safadi said US troops are present in Jordan under a mutual defense agreement that respects the kingdom’s sovereignty.

Safadi dismissed Iranian claims that US bases in Jordan are being used to justify targeting the kingdom, describing the narrative as "incorrect."

He said American personnel have been in Jordan for years as part of military cooperation in several areas, particularly efforts to combat Daesh.

The Jordanian foreign minister stressed that attacks targeting Jordan and Gulf countries are "unacceptable and unjustified," emphasizing that the kingdom is not a party to the ongoing regional tensions.

Safadi said countries in the region seek to establish positive relations with Iran, but added that this requires an end to interference in the internal affairs of other states and respect for their sovereignty.

He said diplomatic efforts are currently focused on ending the war and supporting a comprehensive political process that addresses the roots of disputes between Iran and regional countries rather than relying on further escalation.

Dubai's Government Media Office has denied a Reuters report stating that explosions were heard in central Dubai, saying the information was inaccurate.

In a statement, the office urged media outlets and the public to obtain news from official and reliable sources and to verify information before publishing or sharing it.

US missiles struck locations near Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.

Explosions were heard in central Dubai, according to Reuters.

UAE-based Dana Gas has suspended operations at its main production facilities in Iraq's Khor Mor gas field due to credible security threats and escalating regional tensions, a company spokesperson said.

The shutdown has reduced electricity generation capacity in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq by about 2,500 megawatts, according to the regional electricity ministry. Khor Mor, one of the region's largest gas fields, is the primary supplier of fuel for power generation.

The suspension comes after at least five drones targeted the regional capital, Erbil, on Wednesday, including strikes near the city's international airport and the US Consulate, underscoring growing security concerns in northern Iraq.

Iran's Foreign Ministry accused the United States of violating the memorandum of understanding, saying Washington has escalated its military attacks against Iran and imposed a naval blockade.

In a statement, the ministry said the "US regime has intensified its attacks on our country and imposed a naval blockade in a clear violation of the memorandum of understanding."

The ministry also stressed that all parties, particularly neighboring countries, bear responsibility for preventing the United States from using their territory to launch attacks against Iran.

A US projectile struck near Iran's Qeshm Island, according to Iran's Mehr news agency, as the US campaign against Iranian targets continues to expand.

The ‘Israeli’ military has begun constructing a line of permanent positions in the security zone it occupies in southern Lebanon, according to a report by the Israeli newspaper Maariv.

The report said the new positions are being built as part of a permanent military presence in the occupied area, signaling an expansion of ‘Israel’s fortifications along the border. The ‘Israeli’ military has not publicly commented on the report.

Iran has asked Yemen's Houthi movement to prepare to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait if the United States launches attacks on Iran's electricity infrastructure, according to a Reuters report citing three sources.

The report said Tehran's request is linked to a potential US strike on Iran's energy network, with the Houthis instructed to be ready to disrupt maritime traffic through the strategic Red Sea waterway if such an attack occurs.

Bab al-Mandab is one of the world's most important shipping chokepoints, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Any closure could significantly disrupt global trade and energy shipments. Reuters cited three sources familiar with the matter but said no official confirmation had been issued by Iran or the Houthis.