The United States has launched a sixth consecutive night of military strikes against Iran, with Tehran accusing Washington of hitting civilian infrastructure, including bridges, an airport and a railway station, as tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate.

According to the US Central Command (Centcom), the latest operation was aimed at “further degrade Iranian military capabilities”, while also confirming that US forces boarded a vessel as part of the renewed blockade of Iranian ports.

Iranian state media and provincial officials, however, claimed the attacks extended beyond military targets, alleging that bridges, a train station and an airport were struck. BBC Verify confirmed damage to a bridge west of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan Province.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it responded by targeting US maritime surveillance radar sites in Oman, along with military positions in Kuwait and Bahrain. The group also claimed responsibility for an attack on a US special operations command centre at al-Tanf in Syria, describing it as retaliation for the deaths of Iranian soldiers earlier this week. Neither Syria nor the United States has commented on the claim.

Kuwaiti authorities confirmed that Iranian strikes damaged electricity generation and water desalination facilities, causing fires and disrupting power production. Jordan’s military also reported intercepting three Iranian missiles, adding that there were no casualties or damage.

The IRGC further claimed it struck US fighter jets stationed in Bahrain, according to Iranian state television.

In Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, at least eight people were killed and several others injured after an attack on Sulaymaniyah, according to Kurdish outlet Rudaw and AFP. Kurdish officials blamed Iran for the assault. Authorities also reported intercepting eight drones over Erbil without casualties.

The latest exchange comes as the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy shipping route, remains closed following Iran’s response to US-Israeli military operations. The continued disruption has raised concerns about global energy supplies.

International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that prolonged instability could have serious consequences for global markets.

“We should be worried, and I am worried, if the situation does not improve in the next few weeks,” Birol said.

On Friday, China and Pakistan jointly called on both Washington and Tehran to end hostilities and return to negotiations.

The latest US strikes reportedly targeted areas near Qeshm Island as well as the southern cities of Bandar Abbas and Bushehr, where Iran’s only nuclear power plant is located.

Although Centcom listed “coastal surveillance and air defense sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities” among its targets, it made no reference to attacks on bridges. The BBC said it had requested clarification from the US military.

Iranian officials, however, maintained that Iranshahr Airport, a railway station and six bridges in Hormozgan Province were struck during the overnight bombardment.

Provincial authorities said seven people were killed in the attacks.

BBC Persian and BBC Verify authenticated footage showing significant damage to Gariveh Bridge, which connects Bandar Abbas, Bandar Khamir and Lar.

Videos captured overnight showed flames engulfing the bridge while vehicles remained stranded nearby. Images taken the following morning revealed a collapsed section of the roadway surrounded by rubble.

Iranian media also reported widespread power outages across Hormozgan Province following damage to electricity infrastructure.

Additional strikes were reported in Khuzestan, Bushehr, Hormozgan and Sistan-Baluchestan provinces along Iran’s southern coastline.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump warned that Iran’s bridges and power plants could become targets if Tehran refused to return to negotiations.

Following similar remarks made by Trump in April, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that “deliberately attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime”.

Iran’s Health Ministry said at least 38 people have been killed and more than 400 injured since fighting resumed with the United States.

Centcom also confirmed that US Marines boarded an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman as part of the renewed maritime blockade, adding that “redirected 3 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade”.

The US military noted that during its previous blockade between April 13 and June 18, forces disabled nine vessels and redirected more than 140 ships attempting to access Iranian ports.

Despite the renewed military confrontation, the White House insisted diplomatic channels remain open.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump remains willing to negotiate with Tehran.

“The president will hold them accountable when they turn their back on the words that they state to the United States. But he is always open to diplomacy at the very same time,” she said.

She added that Iran had indicated an interest in reaching an agreement with Washington.

“We’re talking to them, but again, the president is not going to allow them to fire on ships in the strait without paying a consequence for that.”

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said earlier this week that Tehran saw “no reason” to honour any agreement that failed to protect Iranian interests.

He also maintained that Iran’s national security depended on preserving what he described as “Iranian arrangements”in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, President Trump praised Iran on Wednesday after the reported release of American detainee Dena Karari.

“The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Karari’s attorney, Jared Genser, said she was travelling back to the United States.

However, Iran’s judiciary later denied the reports, with state media quoting officials as saying that no American prisoner had been released or exchanged from Iranian custody.

More than 500 people are feared dead after two suspected boat disasters off the coast of Myanmar, according to a warning issued by the United Nations.

In a joint statement released on Thursday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said they were deeply concerned by reports that two vessels carrying more than 500 people may have capsized in recent days.

Preliminary findings indicate that the boats departed from Myanmar’s conflict-affected Rakhine State in late June, with most passengers believed to be members of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority. Some of the passengers were also reportedly travelling from the overcrowded refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where more than one million Rohingya refugees currently live.

According to the UN agencies, one of the vessels, believed to have carried about 250 people, lost contact shortly after setting sail. A second boat, carrying an estimated 280 passengers, is believed to have sunk near Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.

“While the incidents and casualty figures have yet to be officially confirmed, UNHCR and IOM are gravely concerned by the potentially devastating loss of life,” the agencies said.

They noted that the journeys occurred outside the usual sailing season, a period when sea conditions are generally considered more dangerous. Heavy rainfall and widespread flooding across the region have further increased the risks for people travelling by sea.

The UN warned that, if confirmed, the latest tragedy would add to the nearly 300 people already reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal this year, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals.

Rising Risks for Rohingya Refugees

Every year, many Rohingya attempt dangerous sea crossings in search of safety, work and better living conditions. The journeys are often made in overcrowded and poorly equipped boats operated by smuggling and trafficking networks.

UNHCR estimates that nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead at sea in the northern Indian Ocean in 2025 alone, out of more than 6,500 people who attempted the journey.

The agencies said the latest reported shipwrecks highlight the continuing impact of conflict, displacement and the lack of lasting solutions for Rohingya communities.

“Escalating conflict and a worsening humanitarian situation in Myanmar, along with limited assistance and opportunities in refugee camps in Bangladesh, contribute to increasing numbers of people attempting perilous sea journeys in search of safety and protection,” the statement said.

They also warned that smuggling and trafficking groups continue to exploit vulnerable people fleeing insecurity and poverty.

“The reported incidents also highlight the persistent risks posed by smuggling and trafficking networks, which continue to exploit the desperation of people seeking safety,” the agencies added.

UN Calls for Search, Rescue and Protection

IOM and UNHCR urged governments in the region to strengthen search-and-rescue operations, provide access to asylum and protection for survivors, and intensify efforts to dismantle trafficking and smuggling networks.

The agencies also praised Bangladesh for continuing to host large numbers of Rohingya refugees and called for increased international support for both the refugees and the communities sheltering them.

They stressed that long-term efforts are needed to address the root causes of displacement and prevent more desperate and dangerous sea journeys in the future.

Iran has launched a fresh wave of attacks on US military bases in neighbouring Gulf countries, while the United States carried out another series of overnight strikes across Iranian territory as efforts to revive negotiations remain stalled.

Tehran said it targeted US military positions in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, marking the sixth consecutive day of renewed hostilities that have placed the preliminary agreement aimed at ending the conflict under severe strain.

At the same time, the US military announced that it conducted a six-hour operation targeting multiple locations in Iran to “degrade Iran’s ability to threaten innocent mariners” in the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest escalation followed a warning from US President Donald Trump, who said Iran had “better behave” or risk facing additional military action if it refuses to return to the negotiating table.

Footage released by US Central Command showed strikes on Iranian positions overnight.

On Tuesday, Trump warned that Washington could target Iran’s energy infrastructure if Tehran continued to reject negotiations.

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, told state media that Tehran had “no reason” to honour any agreement that did not serve the country’s interests.

He added that Iran’s national security depended on maintaining what he described as “Iranian arrangements” in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to US Central Command (Centcom), the latest military operation struck command centres, air defence installations and coastal surveillance facilities across Iran, including sites in the port city of Bandar Abbas and Greater Tunb Island.

Iranian state media reported explosions in several locations, while air defence systems were activated in Tehran.

Soon after the strikes, several US allies in the Gulf reported coming under attack. Kuwait’s military said it intercepted drones, while Bahrain’s Interior Ministry urged residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location.

Iran’s military also claimed responsibility for attacks targeting US communication systems and fuel storage facilities in Jordan.

As the conflict continues, the Strait of Hormuz — the vital shipping route off Iran’s coast that Tehran effectively closed following US-Israeli strikes — remains shut to normal traffic.

On Tuesday, the United States announced it had reinstated a blockade on Iranian ports, reversing an earlier decision taken under the memorandum of understanding reached between both countries last month.

The following day, US forces fired on and disabled an unladen Curacao-flagged oil tanker that, according to Centcom, was attempting to sail towards a blockaded Iranian port.

Responding to the renewed US blockade, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Washington to “expect the closure of other oil and gas export routes that serve the interests of the United States and its allies”.

The Guards did not specify which additional routes could be affected.

The continuing dispute over the Strait of Hormuz has contributed to another surge in global oil prices, as tanker traffic through the critical shipping corridor has slowed significantly.

Despite the ongoing conflict, Trump welcomed what he described as a positive gesture from Tehran after Iran released an American citizen he said had been “wrongfully detained” since December 2024.

“The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday.

The released American, Dena Karari, was travelling back to the United States, according to her lawyer, Jared Genser, in a post on X.

At least 11 people have died after a fire broke out at a foster care facility in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, emergency authorities have confirmed.

Algeria’s Civil Protection Department said the blaze erupted in the early hours of Thursday, prompting firefighters to respond at about 03:30 local time (04:30 GMT).

Emergency responders were still battling the flames more than three hours later when officials released an update on the incident.

According to the authorities, 19 other people sustained injuries in the fire.

The Civil Protection Department did not disclose the ages or identities of those who were killed or injured.

To contain the blaze, emergency services deployed 10 fire engines and 16 ambulances to the scene.

The incident comes as Algeria continues to battle an intense heatwave that has affected several parts of the country. According to AFP, nearly 1,000 fires have been recorded across Algeria within the past week.

Algerian state media reported that Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited two hospitals in Algiers where victims injured in the fire were receiving treatment.

The report included a photograph showing the prime minister standing beside a child receiving medical care.

Authorities also confirmed that five people living with special needs at the facility were safely evacuated.

The Civil Protection Department said they were “taken into care and transported to a safe location.”

An investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to begin after emergency operations are completed.

Protests have erupted in several Ukrainian cities following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s unexpected dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a move that has sparked criticism from soldiers, commentators and members of civil society.

Crowds gathered in Kyiv on Thursday morning, with many protesters carrying placards bearing messages such as “Hands off Fedorov” and “Stop sabotaging victory!” while chanting “Shame!”.

President Zelensky has not publicly explained the decision, which has triggered widespread debate over the future of Ukraine’s defence reforms.

Lawmakers are expected to vote later on Thursday on the nomination of Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as Fedorov’s replacement.

Fedorov, 35, was appointed defence minister in January and was widely credited with revitalising the ministry by pushing anti-corruption reforms, embracing technology and introducing data-driven strategies to improve military performance on the battlefield.

Some analysts have suggested his dismissal may be linked to disagreements with Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, while others argue it reflects dissatisfaction over the pace of military mobilisation reforms.

Speaking to the BBC, Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr described the decision as deeply unpopular.

“This is the worst mistake Zelensky has made during his entire presidency,” he said.

He explained that he enlisted earlier this year because he believed in Fedorov’s leadership and vision.

“I don’t know anyone who supports the decision to replace him. Not within the army, not in society.”

Many demonstrators echoed similar concerns.

“I have lots of friends in the military. Lots of them died. I don’t want this to go on,” protester Maria Lavrynets, 31, told the BBC during a demonstration in Kyiv.

“We see [Fedorov’s] results. We see the motivation of the soldiers, we should stand for them.”

Before becoming defence minister, Fedorov served as Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation, where he helped establish the volunteer “IT Army of Ukraine” to carry out cyber operations against Russia following the full-scale invasion in 2022.

He later led the successful “Army of Drones” fundraising initiative and introduced a points-based system that rewarded Ukrainian military units for successfully targeting Russian assets.

After taking over the defence ministry, Fedorov continued promoting drone warfare, technological innovation and procurement reforms aimed at modernising Ukraine’s military.

He also appealed to SpaceX founder Elon Musk to prevent Russia from using Starlink satellite services for drone operations, a move that reportedly disrupted Russian frontline activities.

Fedorov’s ministry was also involved in planning Ukraine’s recent operations targeting Russian-controlled Crimea. Last month, he pledged to “cut off” the occupied peninsula from Russia through sustained mid-range drone strikes.

Following his dismissal, Fedorov reflected on his time in office in a Facebook post, highlighting the reforms implemented during his tenure.

He said he would “continue… to defeat the enemy through asymmetry, speed of innovation, and organisational strength”.

His removal has also prompted high-profile resignations.

Prominent military blogger Serhii Sternenko, who served as one of Fedorov’s advisers, described him as “the best minister of defence in our entire history”, while criticising what he called “bureaucratic obstacles and artificial delays” that hindered wider reforms.

Pavlo Yelizarov, a respected drone unit commander, also stepped down from his role as deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force in protest.

He described Fedorov’s dismissal as “a great evil for the country’s defence capability.”