- Israeli forces launched major airstrikes on Bandar Abbas, targeting key naval and military infrastructure.
- Strikes along the Arabian coast disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global oil routes.
- Iran retaliated with attacks across the region as tensions sharply escala
In a significant escalation of regional hostilities, Israeli forces have launched a series of severe air attacks targeting Iran's strategic Bandar Abbas naval base on Friday.
Heavy strikes have also been reported across military installations along the Arabian coast, effectively crippling the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most vital oil gateway. Till now, the United States-Israel has hit 16 cargo vessels of Iran on Friday, as per Iranian media.
Airstrikes by Israel hit an Iranian site near the Caspian Sea, according to official statements. The damage to the harbour and naval facilities has been seen in satellite images, as the area is a vital global oil route and hosts major IRGC bases.
🚨🇺🇸🇮🇱 BREAKING: A US-Israeli attack has struck the Bandar Abbas Air Force base. pic.twitter.com/EwIGiS6eNX
— Nova Intel (@intel_nova) March 20, 2026
Iran retaliated with its attacks on Friday in Bahrain and Israel amid the 21st day of the war.
The Israeli military said it carried out a fresh wave of airstrikes targeting key infrastructure in Tehran after overnight missile attacks by Iran on Israel. According to a military statement, the strikes were aimed at facilities linked to what it called the Iranian regime's operations.
Amid ongoing Israeli air raids, Iran's Supreme Leader on Friday declared that the nation's "enemies" should no longer feel secure, a statement seen by analysts as a direct order for intensified IRGC and intelligence counter-operations.
Also Read: US-Israel-Iran War Live News Updates: Safe Hormuz Passage For $2 Million For Vessels, Says Report
Ali Khamenei's remark came in a statement after Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was killed in an Israeli bombing. The conflict turned violent when an Israeli attack targeted a key Iranian gas field, after which Tehran targeted oil and gas facilities around the Gulf on Thursday, as the global energy supply was pushed towards fuel scarcity.
Around 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Gulf west of the Strait of Hormuz, the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) has reported, as Iran claimed "full control" of the strait.
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