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The U.S. military has concluded its seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran, targeting military infrastructure, as the fragile truce between the two nations shows signs of collapse. Simultaneously, Kuwait and Bahrain reported Iranian projectile attacks, and both U.S. and Iranian forces reported intercepting multiple shipping vessels, further escalating tensions and disrupting vital trade routes.
The U.S. military announced early Saturday the conclusion of its seventh consecutive night of aerial assaults against Iran, as fresh reports emerged of Iranian projectile attacks in Kuwait and Bahrain, alongside persistent disruptions to commercial shipping in the region.
This latest surge in hostilities underscores the deepening fragility of the interim truce signed by the U.S. and Iran just last month. That agreement, intended to restore free passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and de-escalate the conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, now appears to be unraveling.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the attacks, which concluded at 9:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Friday, had targeted "military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities." CENTCOM reiterated its commitment to holding Iran accountable under the Commander in Chief's directives and fully enforcing a naval blockade against Iranian ports.
The military also detailed its efforts to maintain the blockade, stating that during the first three days of renewed implementation, U.S. forces had "redirected 4 commercial vessels, disabled 1, and boarded 1 to ensure full compliance," as outlined in a separate statement.
In a countermove, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had blocked four vessels attempting to traverse the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. protection early Saturday. Iran's IRNA News Agency quoted the IRGC Navy Command, asserting that "In a coordinated missile and drone operation, all four were halted and immobilized at sea," in a post on X.
Iran's aggression also extended to regional targets. Kuwait reported its air defenses were actively "responding to hostile drone threats." The Kuwait News Agency further stated that an Iranian attack on a power and water distillation station caused a fire, though no casualties were reported. This marks the second such attack on Kuwait's crucial water infrastructure within two days. Kuwait, an arid nation, relies on desalination for nearly 90% of its drinking water.
Consequently, Kuwait Airways announced it had rescheduled most of its flights, citing "hostile missile and drone attacks following the Iranian aggression." Neighboring Bahrain's government also confirmed early Saturday that its air defense systems had intercepted several Iranian projectiles, prompting sirens to alert residents. On Friday, Iran had claimed responsibility for targeting U.S. military forces stationed in Syria and Bahrain.
'Winning big in Iran'
U.S. President Donald Trump, addressing the American public on Thursday, insisted the conflict with Iran was progressing favorably. "We are likewise winning big in Iran, and you will see the fruits of that labor very, very shortly," Trump declared. The president had previously threatened to target Iran's bridges and power plants in the coming week if diplomatic negotiations were not resumed.
Ian Lesser, a distinguished fellow at the Washington-based think tank GMF, voiced concerns about the potential for the U.S. and Iran to become entangled in a "forever war." Lesser commented to CNBC, "There's a risk of this, but of course we were in essentially a cold and occasionally hot war with Iran for decades." He further suggested, "I think in some sense this is misjudgment by the current administration. But it is also part of a pattern in the American approach to the use of force, that we have enormous capability and enormous operational prowess and we are hobbled by strategic mistakes."
The ongoing unrest in the Middle East significantly impacted global oil prices on Friday. International benchmark Brent crude futures for September delivery surged by 4.6% to $88.10 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for August delivery gained 4.5% to settle at $82.49. Both benchmarks reached their highest levels since mid-June. For the week, both crude varieties saw approximately 16% gains, with Brent on track for its third consecutive weekly rise and WTI for its second.
– Reuters contributed to this report.
