US strikes near Strait of Hormuz deepen strain in southern Iran
Why it matters: Damage to roads, bridges and desalination sites is hitting ports and fuel access in a region central to Gulf trade.
US attacks in July have concentrated on sites in southern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears among residents that already fragile infrastructure is breaking down. People in Bushehr and Bandar Abbas described fuel shortages, long lines at stations and anxiety over more strikes, while analysts said damage to bridges, roads and water desalination facilities was isolating towns across the south. The region includes key ports on the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, including Chabahar, and islands near the strait. It is economically dependent on shipping and trade with neighboring Gulf states, making disruption there especially sensitive as the war widens.