The U.S. military announced it completed its 13th consecutive night of strikes against Iran, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The strikes, which lasted over two hours, targeted military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites, and maritime capabilities, with the stated aim of diminishing Iran's threat to civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump promised "major military punishment" for Iran and its Houthi allies after the Yemeni fighters struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. Tehran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, with Tehran responding with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states that host U.S. bases. U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have since killed thousands and displaced millions. Trump has also threatened to target Iranian energy facilities and bridges, while Iran has warned that such actions would lead to Iranian forces targeting regional oil, gas, electricity, and economic facilities.
International law experts have stated that attacks on sites essential for civilians could amount to war crimes, and Trump's previous threats have drawn wide condemnation. The Pentagon's casualty tracking system has been updated, reducing the reported number of service members killed in the conflict to 14.
