U.S. expands attacks on Iran, which calls Strait of Hormuz a 'red line' as it strikes back

By — Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-expands-attacks-on-iran-which-calls-strait-of-hormuz-a-red-line-as-it-strikes-back Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter U.S. expands attacks on Iran, which calls Strait of Hormuz a 'red line' as it strikes back World Jul 16, 2026 7:33 PM EDT DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States intensified its strikes against Iran on Thursday, hitting targets farther north and firing into a ship the U.S. accused of trying to break its naval blockade on the Islamic Republic. Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at U.S. allies in the region, and warned its attacks may escalate. The interim ceasefire agreed to last month has collapsed, and the region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks by the U.S. and Iran as they battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials say U.S. strikes have killed more than 35 people and wounded over 300 others. READ MORE: U.S. launches more strikes, tightens naval blockade as Iran hits Gulf allies For the first time in this latest round of violence, strikes also reached into areas around Iran's capital, Tehran, showing a widening set of targets for the Americans. The U.S. launched a second wave of strikes late Thursday, saying it was aiming to "further degrade" Iran's military capabilities. When the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Iran on Feb. 28, Tehran effectively closed the strait to shipping traffic, a move that sent the price of oil soaring and gave Iran major leverage in negotiations. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, threatened that Iran could launch widespread attacks on "all the infrastructure in the region" if the U.S. acts on President Donald Trump 's repeated warnings that America could hit Iranian bridges and power plants. "Under no circumstances and in no way will we allow America, as a foreign and extraregional country, to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz," he added. "This is Iran's invincible red line." Both the U.S. and Iran launch attacks as blockade is reimposed Iranian state media said the U.S. strikes Thursday hit around Tehran and Semnan province, home to Iran's ballistic missile production and space program. State media also reported strikes around the provinces of Hamedan, Hormozgan, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Markazi, and Sistan and Baluchestan, as well as on Iran's Qeshm island, near the Strait of Hormuz. Seven people were wounded in a U.S. strike that hit the Allah-Akbar Hill residential neighborhood in the port city of Bandar Abbas, according to Iranian state media. Two more people were wounded in a U.S. attack on the Bandar Abbas railway junction station, state media said. And just west of Bandar Abbas, witnesses reported that two bridges were struck in a U.S. attack, killing two people and wounding four othe