U.S. forces destroyed a surveillance tower at Iran’s Chabahar port on Friday(7/17/26) as Washington carried out a sixth straight night of strikes against Iranian targets, according to statements from both American and Iranian officials.
The tower, located at the Shahid Kalantari Port on the Gulf of Oman, had reportedly been hit several times during the conflict before finally collapsing. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted an image of the structure appearing to crumble and wrote, “Iran does not control the SoH,” referring to the Strait of Hormuz.
Chabahar is Iran’s only oceanic port and sits along an important trade route that also serves Afghanistan. Iran said the tower was used to oversee commercial traffic entering the port and described it as a civilian facility. The statement, reported by Tasnim news agency, called the strike a “heinous attack” and accused Washington of violating international commitments.
American officials offered a different account. U.S. Central Command said the tower was part of a maritime surveillance network used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for decades to monitor and coordinate attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said destroying the site would reduce the IRGC’s ability to target vessels in the region.
The latest operation was part of a broader overnight campaign involving fighter jets, drones and warships. U.S. forces said they struck dozens of targets, including coastal surveillance systems, air defense positions and military logistics sites. Civilian infrastructure was also hit during the attacks.
Much of the fighting appeared to center around Bandar Abbas, a coastal city that hosts the headquarters of the Iranian navy and lies near the narrowest point of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media reported that at least five bridges were damaged, including the Kahorestan and Gariveh bridges. Seven people were reported killed in strikes near Bandar Khamir, where a train station was also hit. Iranshahr Airport in southeastern Iran was among the sites reportedly struck.
The conflict has continued to spread beyond Iran’s borders.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned Gulf nations hosting U.S. military bases that they could face “crushing retaliation” if American attacks continue. Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Qatar have all reported missile attacks in recent days. Kuwait said several military personnel were injured, while authorities also reported damage to a power generation and water desalination plant. In Qatar, officials said a child was injured by shrapnel after air defenses intercepted an Iranian missile.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has also slowed sharply. Data released Friday showed only three vessels crossed the waterway on Thursday, with several ships either turning around or stopping amid ongoing attacks and the renewed U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
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