US continues airstrikes on Iran as maritime crisis deepens in Strait of Hormuz

The United States has launched a 13th consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian military installations, targeting command posts, drone storage units, and coastal surveillance facilities. The US military stated the strikes aim to curb threats to commercial shipping, while local Iranian media reported four fatalities. Simultaneously, Kuwait recorded Iranian shelling along its border area.

The ongoing hostility has paralyzed maritime transport through the Strait of Hormuz. The United Nations Human Rights Office warned that approximately 6,000 mariners are currently stranded aboard 400 vessels, with owners abandoning at least nine ships.

In response to maritime disruptions, US President Donald Trump declared that Washington will utilize frozen Iranian assets to cover ship and cargo damages. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the move, warning it sets a "highly dangerous precedent."

Sources: Der Standard, ORF, Tagesschau.