US launches 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran as Trump threatens bridge attacks
U.S. Central Command reported a new wave of airstrikes against Iranian targets, marking the 12th night in a row, while President Trump vowed to bomb a bridge or power plant for each Iranian attack on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command announced on social media that forces began additional strikes against Iranian military sites at 5:30 p.m. ET, continuing a campaign that has now lasted 12 consecutive nights. The attacks are described as intended to further degrade Iran's capacity to threaten commercial vessels in regional waters.
President Donald Trump said the United States would "bomb and destroy" a bridge or power plant each time Iran targets a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the retaliation could include facilities in Tehran. An unnamed senior Iranian official warned that Iran would respond by striking infrastructure across the region, including energy sites of U.S. interest.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei accused the United States of using the suspected underground facility known as Pickaxe Mountain as a pretext for further aggression. Trump previously threatened to strike the site, which Iran says does not house nuclear activity.
The United Kingdom announced the withdrawal of its diplomatic staff from Iran due to security concerns. Meanwhile, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed attacks on two Saudi-flagged tankers in the Red Sea, and a tanker was reported hit by an unknown projectile, causing a fire but no immediate casualties.
Four U.S. service members killed in recent fighting with Iran were honored in a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, with Trump attending the ceremony and meeting the families of the fallen.
The ongoing conflict has also been linked to sharp increases in food prices across Iran, with inflation rates exceeding 100% in several provinces, according to local news agencies.