US missile strikes sever bridges, isolate Iran's port city Bandar Abbas

U.S. missiles hit a series of bridges and a railway near Iran's southern port city of Bandar Abbas, cutting off the transport arteries that link the city of about 500,000 residents to the rest of the country. The attacks damaged the Gariveh bridge on the Bandar Abbas–Khamir–Lar route and four other bridges, while the nearby rail junction was also targeted, forcing passengers onto replacement buses.

Bandar Abbas handles roughly half of Iran's trade and houses its main naval base that controls the Strait of Hormuz. The destruction of the bridges and rail line has isolated the city, disrupting the flow of industrial goods, agricultural supplies and petroleum products that support an estimated 90 million people. Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin said the Pentagon believes cutting off the city is key to pressuring Iran to reopen the vital sea passage.

Local authorities urged residents to avoid the damaged roads, keep them open for rescue crews, and rely only on official information as emergency workers began reconstruction efforts.