US Continues Air Campaign Against Iran as Regional Tensions Deepen

The United States carried out another round of strikes on Iran on Monday night, marking the tenth consecutive night of military operations as the conflict continues to escalate across the region.

Explosions were reported in several parts of Iran, including areas near Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Chabahar, and Konarak.

In a statement posted on X, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had targeted Iranian military command centres, maritime assets, missile and drone launch sites, and air defence systems. According to CENTCOM, the strikes are intended to reduce Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The command added that commercial traffic through the strategic waterway has continued despite the ongoing conflict. It said US forces have helped facilitate the passage of about 900 commercial vessels carrying approximately 450 million barrels of crude oil since early May.

The latest developments come as Yemen’s Houthi movement, which is backed by Iran, announced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabian vessels and warned it could expand the conflict by opening another front.

The Houthis said the blockade was in retaliation for last week’s attack on Sanaa International Airport and what they described as the continued blockade of the airport. The latest confrontation followed an attempt by Yemen’s internationally recognised government to prevent an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation from landing in Sanaa. The Saudi-backed government reportedly bombed the airport’s runway, after which the Houthis launched an attack on a Saudi airport.

Yemen remains divided between rival administrations. The Iran-aligned Houthis control the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, including the Red Sea port of Hodeidah. The internationally recognised government, supported by Saudi Arabia and several Gulf states, is based in the southern city of Aden.

Analysts say any attempt by the Houthis to enforce a maritime blockade, combined with rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, could increase uncertainty in global energy markets.

Meanwhile, Iran has rejected US claims that commercial vessels can freely transit the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials insist that ships require Tehran’s approval to pass through the waterway and argue that alternative routes remain hazardous due to mines and other security risks.

According to ship-tracking monitors, the limited number of vessels that have crossed the Strait since the latest round of strikes reportedly travelled through waters controlled by Iran, suggesting they may have received permission from Iranian authorities.

Iran has repeatedly described control of the Strait of Hormuz as a key strategic advantage in its confrontation with the United States. Iranian officials have also maintained that the waterway will not return to unrestricted navigation under the current circumstances.

The conflict has also spread beyond Iran’s borders. Iranian forces have continued retaliatory operations across the Gulf region. According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Tuesday that it had targeted major US military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait, accusing Washington of undermining regional security.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has previously described the confrontation as a “full-scale war” with the United States.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also said Iranian authorities are prepared for the possibility of a US ground invasion, declaring that the country is “counting down the minutes to welcome” any invading forces.