US-Iran escalation: strikes, threats, and the Strait of Hormuz

Washington launches third wave of strikes on Iranian sites; Tehran warns of 'unbreakable red line'

US-Iran escalation: strikes, threats, and the Strait of Hormuz — The United States has renewed its missile and air strikes on Iranian sites, in the third wave of bombing within 24 hours.[^1] Targets included coastal defense systems and cruise missile sites on Greater Tunb Island, as well as positions near Bandar Abbas and the Iranian island of Qeshm.[^2] The strikes come after Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Headquarters warned that the presence of American forces in the Strait of Hormuz constitutes an 'unbreakable red line.'[^3] Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya emergency command escalated further, threatening to destroy all infrastructure in the region if US President Donald Trump follows through on his threats to strike Iranian infrastructure.[^4] 'We will not allow America, as an external force from outside our region, to interfere in our affairs,' the command stated.[^4] Meanwhile, a security source familiar with regional discussions told Israel Hayom that the United States may intensify strikes but will focus on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open while avoiding all-out war.[^5] The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced a shift to targeted destruction of US military facilities in the region.[^6] This dual posture — threats of widespread destruction alongside a stated desire to avoid full war — leaves the conflict in a precarious zone. The gap between rhetoric and operational restraint may narrow if either side misreads the other's red lines. IDF kills Hamas sniper commander, soldier slams general as Katz-Hegseth call focuses on Iran — Last night, the IDF eliminated Omar Ahmed Abu Qasem, a Hamas battalion sniper commander, in a strike in the central Gaza Strip.[^1] The operation came as Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke tonight (Thursday) with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a call that Walla reported focused on continued operations against Iran.[^2] The IDF noted the strike violated the ceasefire agreement, underscoring the tension between the truce and Israel's stated campaign to hunt down every terrorist who participated in the October 7 massacre.[^3] The Nili unit, established after the attack, has killed over 2,700 of an estimated 5,000