The United States and Iran intensified their attacks across the Middle East today, exchanging blows on military targets and infrastructure such as a water plant in Kuwait, as part of the Battle for the Strait of Hormuz.
Fulfilling a threat from US President Donald Trump, the US military has expanded its strikes across Iran, hitting bridges and energy facilities. A tower was demolished in one of Iran's key ports, Chabahar, first reported by Iran's IRNA news agency and confirmed by US Central Command.
In retaliation, Iran launched missiles at Gulf countries that are allies of the US. Among them is Qatar, a mediator in peace talks between the warring parties.
In Kuwait, another ally, a water desalination plant was damaged and suffered extensive damage. The fire has been extinguished and authorities say they are working to restore production.
Kuwait is a desert country, and like other Gulf countries known for their deserts and dry climates, it obtains its drinking water through desalination of seawater. Kuwait's dependence on such water production is 90 percent.
Iran claims that 46 people were killed and at least four hundred were injured in the latest US attacks.
The US also reported today that it has injured its troops - ten soldiers and three marines.
Overnight, the Americans struck bridges in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, Iranian state television reported. Bandar Hamir, a city on the coast of the Strait of Hormuz, was also hit.
The aim of the US attacks on road and rail bridges appears to be to cut off Bandar Abbas, Iran's main port, from the rest of the country.
Iran today admitted for the first time that there had been an "attack on energy infrastructure" and authorities urged citizens to use less energy in southern provinces that were "under severe attack."
Iran's Energy Ministry did not specify what exactly was hit.
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