The United States expanded its military campaign against Iran on Thursday night, carrying out another wave of airstrikes as President Donald Trump delivered a nationally televised address on election integrity.
According to U.S. Central Command, the latest operation concluded at approximately 9:40 p.m. Eastern Time, overlapping with the president’s speech from the White House.
“Today at 9:40 p.m. ET, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed its latest major wave of strikes against Iran,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.
After reportedly being targeted earlier this week during U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s Chabahar maritime control tower, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has released an image showing the structure collapsing during today’s latest wave of strikes.
Based on the duration and scope of… https://t.co/awqZdL2KdS pic.twitter.com/SXQ9F0y40k
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 17, 2026
The military said the operation targeted a broad range of Iranian military assets.
“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 sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities,” the statement said.
CENTCOM described the mission as the sixth consecutive night of American strikes.
“At the Commander in Chief’s direction, CENTCOM is further degrading Iranian military capabilities and holding Iran accountable for recent attacks on commercial shipping,” the command added, noting that roughly 50,000 U.S. troops remain deployed throughout the Middle East.
Military observers suggested Thursday’s attacks represented the largest operation since the renewed campaign began.
The account OSINTdefender highlighted images released by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showing what was described as the collapse of Iran’s Chabahar maritime control tower after it was struck during the latest wave of attacks.
US forces struck a key Iranian road bridge connecting Bandar Abbas to other cities further inland, dropping it into the Shur River. pic.twitter.com/PI7oudXRPN
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) July 16, 2026
“Based on the duration and scope of today’s operations, this appears to have been the most extensive and intense day of the renewed U.S. air campaign against Iran,” the account wrote.
Iranian officials acknowledged that the strikes have affected parts of the country’s electrical infrastructure.
According to The Times of Israel, Iran’s Energy Ministry urged residents to reduce electricity consumption by limiting air conditioner use during peak hours.
The ministry said the request was intended to help maintain a stable power supply in southern provinces that are coping with both extreme heat and attacks on electrical facilities.
First footage showing the damage at the Kahurestan Bridge in Bandar Khamir, southern Iran.
This is a highly strategic artery connecting the coastal Hormozgan province to Iran’s central regions and major logistics hubs. The network is crumbling in real-time. pic.twitter.com/60Oc5EMlbQ
— سيف الدرعي| Saif alderei (@saif_aldareei) July 17, 2026
Meanwhile, additional details emerged regarding the latest targets.
The Associated Press reported that American strikes hit multiple bridges, while Iranian authorities said seven people were killed in an attack on Bandar Khamir, a coastal city near the Strait of Hormuz.
The AP reported that analysts believe the attacks on bridges could be intended to disrupt transportation routes connecting Bandar Abbas, Iran’s largest port, with the country’s interior.
According to The Guardian, Iranian officials said six bridges were struck during Thursday’s operations.
