U.S. Strikes Hormuz Surveillance Towers and Infrastructure; Iran Retaliates

[Anchor]

The United States has bombed Iranian national infrastructure, including surveillance towers in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as railways, bridges, and roads. Iran has responded with retaliatory attacks against neighboring Gulf states.

Here is the report from Washington by correspondent Jeon Byeong-nam.

[Reporter]

Bombs strike a concrete tower, sending black smoke billowing into the air.

U.S. Central Command announced early today (July 18, KST) that it had destroyed surveillance towers at the port of Chabahar, which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had been using to target vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The command stated that this action has directly weakened Iran's ability to coordinate attacks in the region.

In addition, the U.S. bombed civilian infrastructure, including bridges, railways, and roads in the southern city of Bandar Abbas, where an IRGC base is located.

Iranian state media reported that at least five bridges were struck and seven people were killed.

The strikes effectively destroyed supply routes leading to the port city and naval base, a move analyzed as an attempt to neutralize Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran retaliated by attacking U.S. military bases and various infrastructure in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain.

Kuwait confirmed that Iran had targeted power plants and desalination facilities within its borders.

[Interview] Haji Ali Akbari / Iranian Cleric: "Our brave warriors have struck U.S. military bases in the region. In the current hostile situation, the strikes we have carried out were far more severe and extensive (than those of the U.S.), and they will continue in the future."

Previously, Donald Trump had warned that if Iran did not engage in negotiations, the U.S. would bomb infrastructure such as power plants, to which Iran responded by threatening to target infrastructure within Gulf nations.

As analysts warn that the U.S. and Iran are trapped in a "vicious cycle of escalation," the U.S. online media outlet Axios reported that the United States plans to deploy dozens of aerial refueling tankers to Israel.

Consequently, there are projections that the U.S. and Israel may launch expanded military operations within the coming days.

(Video reporting: Oh Jung-sik, Video editing: Kim Jong-mi)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.