US-Iran conflict escalates with second night of strikes and Strait of Hormuz closure

US strikes on Iran enter second night as Gulf states scramble and global repercussions mount.

US-Iran conflict escalates with second night of strikes and Strait of Hormuz closure — US Central Command launched a widespread bombing campaign inside Iran overnight, the second straight night of what it called 'self-defense strikes.' [^1] The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by firing 12 ballistic missiles at the Az-Zarqa airbase in Jordan. [^2] Air raid sirens activated across Bahrain, [^3] and Kuwait announced a temporary closure of its airspace. [^4] The United States imposed sanctions on nine entities in China and Hong Kong for assisting weapons procurement for the IRGC. [^5] A strike on a tanker off the coast of Oman left three Indian sailors missing. [^6] Twenty-two countries jointly condemned Iran for what they described as lethal terror attacks. [^7] Separately, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported the interception of 14 Ukrainian drones heading toward the Russian capital. [^8] The strikes aim to pressure Iran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which it shut after the initial bombings. [^1] President Donald Trump threatened further attacks if no deal is reached. [^9] Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called the targeting of civilian infrastructure 'a sign of helplessness.' [^9] The widening conflict risks drawing in more actors, but it remains unclear whether Washington will sustain this military tempo or shift to diplomacy. [^1][^9] Supreme Court secrecy, northern protests, and coalition infighting mark a volatile political day — Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, appeared handcuffed before the Israeli Supreme Court via video link—his first sighting since February. Rami Abdo, head of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, said the court barred journalists from attending the session and allowed lawyer Naser Abu Ouda to present his plea only before being asked to leave under the pretext of discussing secret indictment items.[^1] The opacity of the proceedings highlights how legal arenas remain caught between security claims and due process. Hundreds of residents from Hatzor HaGlilit and Rosh Pina blocked Highway 90 this evening to protest their exclusion from the government's northern aid program. "We appe