US Military Concludes Sixth Night of Strikes Against Iran Under Trump’s Orders

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, July 16 (Reuters) — The U.S. military confirmed late Thursday it executed its most recent wave of airstrikes on Iran, ordered by President Donald Trump, marking six consecutive nights of American military operations against Tehran. The attacks targeted strategic Iranian military infrastructure amid escalating tensions tied to Israel’s conflict with Hamas.

According to a statement by the U.S. Central Command, “U.S. forces, including fighter jets, aerial drones, and warships, launched precision munitions that hit dozens of Iranian military targets such as coastal surveillance and air defense systems, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities.”

Key strike locations included Qeshm Island and the contested region near Bandar Abbas — a strategic hub housing Iran’s largest port and critical facilities for its navy and Revolutionary Guard units situated along the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media reported U.S. airstrikes on three bridges and a train station in Bandar Khamir, along with an alleged missile attack on Iranshahr Airport in southeastern Iran. Reuters could not independently verify these claims.

Tehran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at U.S. bases in neighboring countries, including an expanded military facility in Jordan. Iran claimed the base was involved in a recent U.S. strike on an Iranian children’s cancer hospital, which the Iranian government condemned.

President Trump intensified rhetoric this week, vowing to target Iranian energy infrastructure and threaten strikes against bridges in the coming days. The 1949 Geneva Conventions prohibit attacks on civilian-critical sites, with U.S. legal experts noting such targeting could constitute war crimes if indiscriminate or disproportionate.

Trump faced global backlash in April after threatening to obliterate Iran’s “entire civilization” during ceasefire negotiations with Tehran. The current conflict originated when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, prompting Iranian counterattacks on Israeli and Gulf-based U.S. military installations.

Ongoing hostilities in Iran—including strikes on Lebanon and Gulf nations—have resulted in thousands of casualties and mass displacement, exacerbating regional instability and triggering a spike in global oil prices.

Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman

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