The US struck bridges in Iran, and Tehran responded by striking a power plant and desalination plant in Kuwait on Friday, as the two sides risked further escalation by expanding their targets to include infrastructure.
At sea, where a new conflict has again cut off energy supplies from the Gulf, US Marines boarded ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
Gunmen seized another ship near Yemen, raising concerns about security in the Middle East’s largest oil shipping region at the mouth of the Red Sea.
Iran’s official Tasnim news agency reported late on Friday that the Revolutionary Guards Navy “targeted” a Thai-flagged ship attempting to pass through the Hormuz Sea Gate. It did not provide further details.
Washington and Tehran have been testing escalation limits since their ceasefire agreement collapsed last week, raising the prospect of a return to all-out war.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to carry out major airstrikes against Iran’s infrastructure and has also refused to rule out a ground attack on Iran’s coast or islands. US officials have said the strikes against southern Iran were designed in part to give Trump a choice.
