WASHINGTON: The United States military said it completed another round of airstrikes against Iran late Tuesday, marking the 11th consecutive night of American military operations amid the escalating conflict between Washington, Israel and Tehran.
The latest strikes targeted a range of Iranian military infrastructure as the US said it was seeking to further weaken Tehran’s ability to threaten international maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Targets Iranian Military Infrastructure
In a statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces struck multiple military sites across Iran.
“CENTCOM assets targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” the command said.
According to the US military, the operation lasted approximately 75 minutes late Tuesday.
Washington Cites Maritime Security Concerns
The United States accused Iran of attacking more than 30 commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz over the past three months, saying the strikes were aimed at reducing Tehran’s capacity to disrupt one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes.
Conflict Continues to Escalate
The current war began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel as well as Gulf states hosting US military bases.
Since then, the conflict has expanded across the region, with Israeli military operations in Lebanon and continued exchanges of attacks involving Iran and its allies.
Rising Casualties
According to an Iranian Health Ministry official, the latest US strikes have killed 50 civilians and injured approximately 500 others.
Meanwhile, US troop fatalities in the conflict have reportedly risen to 18 in recent days.
Trump Signals Further Military Action
On Monday, US President Donald Trump vowed retaliation against Iran following a deadly weekend for American forces.
Last week, Trump also warned that the United States could broaden its list of targets inside Iran to include energy facilities and bridges, signaling the possibility of further escalation.
International Law Concerns
The 1949 Geneva Conventions, which govern the humanitarian conduct of armed conflict, prohibit attacks on infrastructure considered essential to the survival of civilian populations.
Following President Trump’s earlier remarks about targeting such facilities, several international law experts argued that deliberate attacks on protected civilian infrastructure could raise serious legal concerns and, depending on the circumstances, may constitute violations of international humanitarian law.
BY: The Times Union
