United States launches 13th night of strikes on Iran, intensifying Gulf tensions

The U.S. Central Command announced a 13th consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian military and commercial targets, hitting sites in Bandar Abbas, the island of Qeshm, Ahvaz, Andimeshk, Omidiyeh and other locations. Iranian state media reported at least two fatalities in Bandar Abbas, four dead and five injured in Ahvaz, and additional casualties elsewhere.

Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks on U.S. installations in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq, including explosions near Erbil airport in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Iran‑backed Houthi rebels in Yemen also struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, threatening the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned of a "major military punishment" against Iran and the Houthis and said frozen Iranian funds would be used to reimburse ship‑damage claims. Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel as the conflict jeopardised the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for global oil shipments.