U.S. Expands Airstrikes in Iran to Civilian Infrastructure, Triggering Retaliation Against Gulf Nations

The United States has entered its sixth day of airstrikes against Iran, expanding its targets to include civilian facilities.

U.S. Central Command announced via X (formerly Twitter) that it struck dozens of locations, including Iranian air defense systems and military logistics infrastructure, as of 16th (U.S. Eastern Time). However, local Iranian media reported that the U.S. military also attacked civilian facilities.

Iranian media reported that a bridge in the Bandar Khamir region was destroyed by U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of 17th (local time), resulting in at least 7 deaths.

Reports also indicated that a railway junction located about 10km west of the major southern port city of Bandar Abbas was struck, and that bombs fell on Iranshahr Airport near the Pakistani border, cutting off power supplies.

The Associated Press analyzed that these strikes followed threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to attack key infrastructure to break the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, adding that there is a possibility of expanded airstrikes to paralyze Iran's military logistics and civilian transport.

The Iranian Ministry of Health stated that 38 people have been killed and approximately 400 injured since June 22, when U.S. airstrikes resumed following the signing of a previous memorandum of understanding.

Iran, which had warned that it would launch retaliatory attacks on energy infrastructure in Gulf nations if the U.S. military destroyed facilities such as power plants or bridges, began counterattacks against neighboring countries immediately following these strikes.

According to CNN, the Kuwaiti military activated its air defense systems to intercept projectiles launched from Iran in the early hours of 17th (local time), and air raid sirens were also sounded in Bahrain.

Qatar was also attacked by Iran for two days starting from the night of 16th (local time). The Qatari Ministry of Interior reported that one child was injured by falling debris while intercepting the projectiles.

Reported by Kim Jin-u | Video by Ryu Jisoo | Graphics by Lee Jeong-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.