Key development: The US is now running daylight strikes on Iran and Trump just threatened to hit their power plants and bridges next week if they don’t negotiate.
Military Operations
(Update) The US is now flying daylight strikes on Iran after days of nighttime attacks. They’re hitting coastal defenses and missile sites, and Iran’s reporting casualties. (Euronews)
Context: This marks a shift in operational tempo. The US had been conducting strikes at night, but now they’re hitting targets in broad daylight—a more visible and aggressive posture. This is the fourth consecutive day of US strikes.
Sources: Euronews
(Update) Iran attacked US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan last night. Tehran claims they destroyed the Fifth Fleet’s command center, though this hasn’t been independently verified. (Al Jazeera) [UNCONFIRMED]
Context: Iran has expanded the geographic scope of its attacks beyond just hitting US targets in the Gulf. The Fifth Fleet command center claim is sole-sourced to Al Jazeera. This comes as Iran continues to respond to the ongoing US strike campaign.
Sources: Al Jazeera
(Update) The US hit a marine control tower in Iran. It’s a new type of target in this escalating strike campaign. (Al Jazeera)
Context: This represents another step up the escalation ladder. The US has been systematically expanding the types of Iranian infrastructure it’s willing to hit, and maritime control facilities are now on that list.
Sources: Al Jazeera
Houthis fired missiles at Saudi Arabia after strikes hit Sanaa Airport. The airport strikes were meant to stop an Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. (France 24) [UNCONFIRMED]
Context: Yemen’s conflict is getting pulled into the wider US-Iran confrontation. The Houthis are blaming Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s government for the airport strikes. France 24 is the sole source reporting this.
Sources: France 24
US Policy
(Update) Trump says he’ll hit Iran’s power plants and bridges next week if they don’t make a deal. He’s also reimposed a full naval blockade of Iranian ports. (France 24)
Context: This is a significant escalation in Trump’s threats. Yesterday he announced the naval blockade. Now he’s put a specific timeline on infrastructure strikes—one week—and named the targets: power grids and bridges. The blockade is already in effect, preventing ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports.
Economy
(Update) Iran’s now threatening to shut down the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which Saudi Arabia uses to export oil. That’s on top of the Strait of Hormuz they’ve already closed. (France 24)
Context: Iran is expanding its blockade threats beyond Hormuz. The Bab el-Mandeb is the gateway between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden—a major global shipping chokepoint. If Iran actually closes both straits, it would disrupt a huge chunk of the world’s oil supply.
Sources: France 24
Inside Iran
Iran executed a man for setting fire to a government building during January protests. Amnesty International says Iran’s using the war as cover to speed up politically motivated executions. (Euronews)
Context: Mohammad Amini Dehaghani was convicted of torching a governor’s office in Isfahan back on January 9. Amnesty is warning that Iran’s ramping up executions of protesters and dissidents while the world is focused on the military conflict.
Sources: Euronews
What to watch: Whether Iran actually follows through on closing the Bab el-Mandeb—and whether Trump makes good on his threat to hit infrastructure next week if there’s no deal.