US-Iran Strikes Escalate, Hormuz Crisis Hits Energy

The United States and Iran exchanged fresh attacks on Friday, intensifying fears of a wider regional conflict as disruptions in shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz threatened global energy supplies.

The latest escalation followed the collapse of a ceasefire agreement last week, with both sides increasing military operations across the Middle East.

The US military said it carried out new strikes targeting Iran’s military capabilities, hitting facilities on Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas and other sites linked to Iran’s navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

US Central Command said the strikes targeted Iranian aircraft, drones, naval assets, air defence systems, coastal surveillance facilities and military logistics infrastructure.

Iranian state media reported that several locations in southern Iran were hit, including bridges, a railway station in Bandar Khamir and Iranshahr Airport. Iranian officials said casualties were reported, though the figures could not be independently verified.

Iran responded by claiming missile and drone attacks on US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Iranian media also reported explosions in Qatar’s capital, Doha, and said the IRGC targeted a US special operations facility in Syria.

The renewed hostilities have severely affected maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route that previously carried around one-fifth of the world’s energy supplies. Vessel movements through the waterway have slowed significantly amid heightened security concerns.

The disruption has pushed oil prices higher and raised concerns over inflation, energy security and the global economy.

US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could expand its military campaign against Iran, while Tehran cautioned that further escalation could lead regional allies, including Yemen’s Houthi movement, to target other major shipping routes such as the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The latest exchange of attacks has increased fears that the conflict could spread across the region, threatening international trade routes and global energy markets.