Sixth wave of US strikes on Iran targets bridges and an airport.

Image caption: The US attack targeted three bridges in the Khamir area of Hormozgan province.

Published July 16, 2026.

Last updated one hour ago.

Reading time: 4 minutes.

US airstrikes targeted an airport and a railway station in the coastal city of Bandar Abbas, as well as two bridges in southern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media on Friday.

The semi-official Tasnim agency stated that American fighter jets launched missiles at Iranshahr Airport, without providing details regarding the scale of the damage or casualties.

For its part, the Iranian state news agency and television reported that three explosions were heard in the vicinity of the airport, adding that at least one projectile launched by the United States hit Iranshahr Airport.

In a separate development, the semi-official Fars agency reported that a bridge in the city of Bandar Khamir was targeted in a US attack.

Tasnim reported that a US attack targeted three bridges in the Khamir area of Hormozgan province, noting that the most significant was a bridge connecting Bandar Abbas to the city of Lar in Fars province within the Kahurestan range, which caused power outages in some areas and disrupted telephone communication services.

The agency stated that the attack occurred while vehicles were crossing the bridge, leading to them swerving and being blown off the site after a missile struck nearby.

It added that initial information indicates the death of one person and injuries to several others, with the final toll to be announced later.

Social media users circulated videos showing destruction on the bridge and fires breaking out in its vicinity as a result of the US attack.

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State television quoted the governor of Bushehr, which houses Iran's only civilian nuclear plant, as saying that two explosions occurred in the city, within what he described as a 'continuation of the American enemy's aggression.' The television also pointed to a series of explosions in the coastal city of Bandar Abbas.

Mehr agency reported via Telegram: 'A few minutes ago, the railway branch station in Bandar Abbas was attacked by the American enemy,' noting that 'two Iranians were injured in the attack.'

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that US forces began, at 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, executing a new wave of strikes against Iran, for the sixth consecutive night.

The Central Command, in a statement published on the 'X' platform, said that the strikes aim to continue weakening Iranian military capabilities.

International Energy Agency warns.

The Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, warned on Thursday of the repercussions of continued tension between the US and Iran on global energy security, calling for improved oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz in the coming weeks.

Birol said during an event organized by the Council on Foreign Relations that the security of oil supplies 'remains an extremely critical issue,' adding: 'We should be worried, and I am worried if the situation does not improve within the next few weeks.'

His remarks come in light of rising tensions over navigation and energy supplies in the region, as the Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important global corridors for oil transport.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Thursday that members of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted a boarding operation for verification on board the tanker M/T Wen Yao in the Gulf of Oman.

The command said in a statement on the 'X' platform that US forces redirected three commercial ships that attempted to bypass the naval blockade imposed on Iran, disabled one ship for non-compliance, and boarded another to ensure compliance with procedures.

CENTCOM added that the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters remain open and free for navigation, with the exception of ships that, as it described, attempt to break the US naval blockade imposed on Iran.

Israel prepares for a wider US-Iran escalation.

The American Fox News quoted a report that Israel is preparing for the possibility of a new escalation between the US and Iran during the next week, following remarks by US President Donald Trump and ongoing diplomatic developments.

Israel's Channel 12 reported that Israel believes US forces might begin targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran, after US strikes had so far focused mainly on military sites.

This assessment is based on statements made by Trump in an interview with 'Fox News,' where he said that US strikes would intensify in the coming days, adding: 'Next week will be a very bad week for them, because we will target power plants, then bridges.'

Trump added that the United States 'will destroy all power plants and bridges' in Iran unless Tehran agrees to return to the negotiating table, according to The Times of Israel.

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