Tehran [Iran], July 25 (ANI): In a brief respite following nearly two weeks of intense military action, Iran reported no overnight bombardment on Saturday, marking an interruption to 13 consecutive nights of US military strikes. However, regional instability remains high following the sharp escalation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour confirmed the pause in a post on X, stating, “Iran had a peaceful night.”
Meanwhile, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) did not immediately announce any operational pause, breaking its previous pattern of issuing daily statements on offensive actions carried out over the past 13 days.
Despite the overnight calm inside Iran, security alerts continued across neighbouring Gulf nations. Saudi Arabian authorities activated warning sirens in the Red Sea provinces of Yanbu and Jizan, both important centres for oil infrastructure, citing a “potential danger” that was later stood down.
Similarly, Bahrain’s defence systems triggered missile warning alarms early Saturday morning, though local officials confirmed that there were no casualties.
The fragile calm follows the collapse of a previous truce earlier this month. The initial hostilities, triggered by joint US and Israeli strikes against Iranian targets, escalated after Tehran was accused of attacks on three commercial vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington later launched strikes against dozens of targets inside Iran, prompting Iranian forces to carry out retaliatory attacks against US-aligned Arab partner states.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for global oil supplies, remains the main flashpoint in the conflict and was largely disrupted following Iranian strikes.
On Friday, US naval forces engaged a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman accused of attempting to breach the re-established blockade on Iranian ports. At the same time, Iranian forces launched attacks against Gulf Arab states with defence ties to the United States.
Adding to the maritime security crisis, Iran-aligned Houthi forces targeted two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea earlier this week, raising concerns over a wider disruption of key commercial shipping routes. In response, the Saudi-led coalition operating in Yemen carried out targeted strikes against the Yemeni port city of Hodeida early Saturday.
Amid the worsening security situation, US diplomatic missions across the Middle East issued advisories to American citizens on Friday, warning that commercial departure routes from the region could face severe restrictions.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) urged civilians in neighbouring countries to stay away from facilities housing US military personnel.
The humanitarian toll from the multi-front conflict continues to rise. According to figures released by Iran’s Health Ministry, more than 3,400 people have been killed in Iran since the start of hostilities.
Reported casualties elsewhere include 18 US service members, 24 civilians in Israel, and additional civilian deaths across several regional countries.
Fighting along the northern front involving Iran-backed Hezbollah has also resulted in more than 4,000 deaths in Lebanon and 38 casualties among Israeli troops, underscoring that despite the temporary calm in Tehran, the wider regional situation remains highly volatile. (ANI)
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