The United States military has completed its twelfth successive night of strikes on Iran, escalating a conflict that has already killed thousands and displaced millions. These attacks, directed by President Donald Trump, targeted Iranian military sites, including maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets. U.S. forces have hit dozens of Iranian military locations on land throughout July, while also resuming a naval blockade against Iran at sea. The latest round of U.S. strikes lasted five hours, according to military statements.
Washington is also increasing its military presence in the Middle East, preparing for a potential expansion of the ongoing conflict with Iran. Sources familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that President Trump is considering broadening his attacks, with additional forces providing more military options. Fighter jets have been positioned across the region, and bomber aircraft remain on high alert. Israeli officials, according to two sources, believe Trump is preparing to significantly escalate the American military campaign against Iran. They anticipate that an expanded U.S. campaign, targeting Iranian strategic infrastructure and senior regime officials, would likely provoke direct retaliation from Tehran against Israel.
Escalating Aggression
Earlier this week, President Trump issued a stark threat, stating the U.S. would strike Iranian bridges and power plants in response to any Iranian fire on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. He declared, "The US will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant, including those located next to, or in, the capital city of Tehran," adding this would occur "from this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz." This aggressive posture follows the initiation of the Iran war on February 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting Iran to respond with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. bases. The conflict, now in its first year, has seen U.S. troop deaths rise to 18 in recent days.
Iran's joint military command has warned that if Trump's threat were carried out, its forces would target regional oil, gas, electricity, and economic facilities. State media reported this warning came after Trump's threat to destroy Iran's bridges and power plants. The broader regional context includes Yemen's Houthis, who have been targeting tankers in the Red Sea, opening another front in the conflict surrounding Iran.
Breaching International Law
Reuters reported that the 1949 Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit attacks on sites considered essential for civilians. International law experts in the United States stated in April that such attacks may amount to war crimes, following Trump's earlier threats. Trump's April threat to destroy Iran's entire civilization, now in its third month since being issued, also drew widespread condemnation. The systematic targeting of infrastructure vital for civilian life raises serious questions about adherence to international humanitarian law. The ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have already resulted in a devastating human toll, with thousands killed and millions displaced.