The United States launched a new wave of military attacks on Iran on Thursday evening, marking the 13th consecutive night of strikes, as Washington continued its escalating campaign against the Islamic Republic under the pretext of targeting military infrastructure and protecting maritime navigation.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the latest operation began at 6:45 p.m. Eastern Time and was aimed at degrading what it described as Iranian military capabilities and countering alleged threats to commercial shipping in the Gulf. The sustained campaign has drawn growing concern over its humanitarian impact and the increasing risk of a wider regional conflict.

Iranian media reported that US forces struck multiple locations across southern and central Iran, with explosions heard in Bandar Abbas, Jask Port, Konarak Port, Ahvaz, Omidiyeh, Andimeshk, Khorramabad, Anarak, Nain, Borujerd, Taft, Shirkuh, Firuzabad, and areas near Khondab in Markazi Province. Authorities on Qeshm Island also confirmed two separate attacks.

In Hormozgan Province, local officials said several civilians were injured after US strikes hit Bandar Abbas Port, one of Iran's most important commercial and maritime hubs. Iranian state news agency IRNA reported power outages affecting parts of the port, while emergency authorities said repair teams were working to restore electricity shortly after the bombardment.

Iranian state television reported that air defense systems were activated in Tehran as explosions echoed across several provinces. Local sources said the latest round of US attacks targeted at least 16 Iranian cities, reflecting one of the broadest bombardments since the campaign began nearly two weeks ago.

In Khuzestan Province, officials reported that four people were killed and five others wounded after US attacks struck areas near the city of Ahvaz. Iranian authorities condemned the attacks as a violation of international law and warned that continued assaults would further destabilize the region.

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that its air defense units successfully intercepted and destroyed a US Tomahawk cruise missile over Kahnuj in Kerman Province before it reached residential neighborhoods or sensitive facilities.

According to Iran's Fars News Agency, the missile was detected shortly after entering the city's airspace and was neutralized without causing damage on the ground. Iranian officials described the interception as evidence of the country's continued defensive capabilities despite the ongoing US military campaign.

The latest escalation comes amid mounting tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically significant maritime corridors. Tehran has repeatedly warned that sustained US military pressure and restrictions on Iranian shipping threaten regional stability and has linked the full normalization of maritime traffic to an end to what it describes as American aggression.

Washington has meanwhile reinforced its naval presence across the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, continuing operations that Iranian officials say are intended to undermine the country's sovereignty over regional waterways and increase military pressure on the Islamic Republic.

The intensifying US attacks have heightened fears of a broader regional confrontation at a time when Israel continues its military offensive in the Gaza Strip. Analysts warn that the expansion of military operations beyond Palestine risks further destabilizing West Asia, disrupting global energy markets, and endangering one of the world's most vital maritime trade routes.

Palestinian resistance groups and several regional movements have repeatedly argued that the growing US military involvement across the region reflects Washington's continued support for Israel's war on Gaza, while critics say the expanding conflict threatens civilian populations far beyond occupied Palestine. (ILKHA)