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US Conducts 13th Straight Night of Strikes on Iran as Regional Tensions Roil Oil Markets
The U.S. military has conducted its 13th consecutive night of strikes against targets in Iran, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). The ongoing military action comes amid a significant escalation of regional conflict that is rattling global energy markets and threatening two of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.
Latest Military Operations
The latest round of attacks lasted more than two hours late Thursday, CENTCOM reported. The strikes were aimed at diminishing the threat Iran poses to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that Tehran has blocked.
According to the statement, U.S. forces targeted a range of Iranian military assets, including:
- Military command centers
- Drone storage facilities
- Communication networks
- Coastal surveillance sites
- Maritime capabilities
Market Impact and Widening Conflict
AdThe sustained U.S. military campaign follows a promise from President Donald Trump of "major military punishment" for Iran. The president's statement came after Yemeni Houthi fighters, allied with Iran, struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, expanding the conflict into a second major chokepoint for global trade.
The escalation has had a direct impact on commodity markets, with the increased risk to global oil supply chains pushing Brent crude futures above $100 a barrel. The attacks in both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz disrupt the transit of millions of barrels of oil per day, creating significant uncertainty for investors and energy-dependent economies.
Background and Economic Risks
The current conflict, which began on February 28, has involved retaliatory strikes between a U.S.-Israeli coalition and Iran, which has also targeted Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases. The situation remains volatile, with both sides threatening to target critical economic infrastructure.
President Trump has previously threatened to strike Iranian energy facilities, while Tehran has warned it would retaliate against regional oil, gas, and electricity infrastructure if such attacks were carried out. International law experts have cautioned that targeting sites essential for civilians could be considered a violation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
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