US-Iran escalation: tanker strike, bridges hit, and a widening Gulf conflict

Deputy governor of Bushehr says an empty oil tanker at Kharg Island was hit again by US missiles as the US strikes six bridges and Chabahar port control tower.

US-Iran escalation: tanker strike, bridges hit, and a widening Gulf conflict — The deputy governor of Bushehr stated that an empty oil tanker anchored at Kharg Island was hit again by US missiles, according to Iranian news agency IRNA.[^1] The US military also struck six bridges on the Bandar Abbas-Lar axis and in the Bandar Khamir area last night, and destroyed the control tower at the port of Chabahar.[^2] Iranians report eight killed and 19 wounded in the strikes.[^3] Yesterday only eight ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz, seven of them in the lane approved by the Revolutionary Guards and closer to Iran, despite President Trump's repeated declarations this week that the strait is open to everyone except Iranians.[^4] The Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for attacking the US Al Udeid air base in Qatar.[^5] Meanwhile, an anonymous Pakistani official emphasized that an attack on Saudi Arabia would be a 'red line' for Pakistan, as Pakistan has signed a defense pact with Saudi Arabia and has thousands of soldiers stationed there.[^6] US Vice President JD Vance claimed in an interview with Joe Rogan that Washington's negotiations with Iran were derailed due to a 'hidden and well-funded campaign' linked to Israel. President Trump delivered a speech about successes in confronting Iran but did not publicly support Vance. Trump is considering launching a large-scale attack on Iran, significantly larger than the current strikes around the Strait of Hormuz, but has not yet made a final decision. The administration has asked Israel to receive additional refueling planes. Masked gunman fires in Tel Aviv lobby; airport riot and other incidents — Around five in the morning, a masked person entered a residential building in Tel Aviv's Lamed neighborhood, opened fire, and vandalized the lobby. The building is home to journalist Linoy Bar-Gefen. No injuries were reported, but the incident underscores a pattern of brazen criminal activity in public spaces. [^1] At Ben Gurion Airport, before a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt, three passengers caused a disturbance on board, attacked police officers, and wounded six security personnel. One suspect shouted at a