{"id":1765,"date":"2026-07-17T04:40:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T04:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1765"},"modified":"2026-07-17T04:40:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T04:40:04","slug":"us-strikes-bridges-and-collapses-a-tower-at-a-key-port-as-its-iran-campaign-expands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1765","title":{"rendered":"US strikes bridges and collapses a tower at a key port as its Iran campaign expands"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) \u2014 The United States expanded its airstrike campaign against Iran<\/span> early Friday by hitting more bridges and apparently collapsing a tower at a key Iranian port, part of U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s threats to start striking infrastructure to pressure Tehran to ease its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran launched new missile attacks against U.S.-allied nations in the Middle East, including Qatar, a key mediator in the war. <\/p>\n

Read more Andy Burnham, a mayor from England\u2019s north, is poised to become Britain\u2019s next prime minister<\/a><\/p>\n

The interim ceasefire agreed to last month has collapsed<\/span>, and the region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks by the U.S. and Iran as they battle for control of the strait<\/span>. Iranian officials say U.S. strikes have killed more than 35 people and wounded over 300 others, with new casualties reported in Friday\u2019s strikes.<\/p>\n

When the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Iran on Feb. 28, Tehran effectively closed the strait to shipping traffic, a move that sent the price of oil soaring<\/span> and gave Iran major leverage in negotiations.<\/p>\n

Speaking in a primetime address to the American public, Trump insisted the war was going well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are likewise winning big in Iran, and you will see the fruits of that labor very, very shortly,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Bridges and a port tower hit in Iran<\/h2>\n

The U.S. airstrikes hit bridges overnight into Friday in Iran\u2019s southern Hormozgan province, killing at least seven people, Iranian state television reported. The attacks hit Bandar Khamir, a city on Iran\u2019s coast on the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n

The U.S. military\u2019s Central Command said it hit dozens of targets in its latest airstrikes, which concluded at dawn Friday, the sixth night in a row of American attacks. <\/p>\n

The strikes also appeared to have collapsed a tower at Iran\u2019s Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman, a key trade route for landlocked, neighboring Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared the image of the surveillance tower appearing to collapse. That image had circulated social media via activists prior to Hegseth sharing it. <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Chabahar port, which Iran had been running with support from India, has been a repeated target of American airstrikes. Iranian state media acknowledged a third round of strikes on the facility without immediately acknowledging the tower\u2019s collapse.<\/p>\n

Read more UK urges FIFA to investigate Argentina over Falklands banner at World Cup<\/a><\/p>\n

Iran described the tower as overseeing commercial traffic into the port. However, Iran\u2019s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also operates at ports across the country.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Iran retaliates by targeting Qatar, a mediator in the war <\/h2>\n

On Friday, Qatar twice warned the public to take shelter as a barrage of Iranian missiles targeted the nation. People heard explosions overhead as air defenses fired to intercept the missiles. Qatar\u2019s Interior Ministry said falling debris wounded a child.<\/p>\n

Qatar is a key mediator with Pakistan in trying to reach an end to the Iran war. But talks have broken down over Iran\u2019s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n

Iran earlier targeted Bahrain and Kuwait over U.S. airstrikes hitting bridges in the Islamic Republic overnight.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n
\nSign up for Morning Wire:<\/strong>
\n Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.\n <\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n
\n