US strikes Iran for sixth straight night as Middle East conflict intensifies

Washington: United States forces launched military strikes against Iran for a sixth consecutive night on Thursday, the US military announced.

The bombardments, which commenced at 1800 GMT, were executed to "further degrade Iranian military capabilities," US Central Command stated in a post on the social media platform X.

A temporary ceasefire brokered last month has completely unravelled. The Middle East has since plunged into days of tit-for-tat violence between Washington and Tehran as both sides contest control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials claim that the American bombardments have left more than 35 people dead and in excess of 300 others injured.

For the first time since this latest wave of conflict erupted, US strikes targeted areas in the vicinity of Iran's capital, Tehran, indicating a significant expansion of the American target list.

When the US and Israel initiated hostilities against Iran on 28 February, Tehran responded by effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz to maritime shipping. The blockade triggered a sharp increase in global oil prices and provided Iran with substantial leverage in diplomatic talks.

Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned that Tehran could initiate broad assaults against "all the infrastructure in the region" should Washington carry out President Donald Trump's repeated threats to bomb Iranian power stations and bridges.

“Under no circumstances and in no way will we allow America, as a foreign and extraregional country, to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz,” Zolfaghari said, adding, “This is Iran's invincible red line.”

The military exchanges highlight a volatile dynamic, with both the US and Iran executing major attacks as the maritime blockade is strictly reimposed.

With inputs from AFP