Iran War Day 11 Update | Targets, Reactions, Strait of Hormuz Risk

Situation overview

• Overall tempo. Day 11 of the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran saw a further intensification of coalition air strikes. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told reporters that the coalition was planning “the most intense day of strikes inside Iran” so far, with more fighters, bombers and targets than previous days. He added that Iran’s missile launches had fallen to their lowest level since the conflict began. The U.S. has conducted >5,000 strikes since the war began on 28 February and has destroyed or damaged more than 50 Iranian naval vessels. In the past day the Pentagon also confirmed attacks on Iranian mine‑laying vessels and storage facilities to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
• Iran’s response. Iranian forces continued to fire missiles and drones, but the rate of Iranian strikes has dropped sharply because coalition attacks have degraded Iran’s weapons stockpiles and launchers. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases and diplomatic missions in Arab Gulf states and has also hit hotels, airports and oil infrastructure. Iranian state media reported that air strikes on residential buildings in Arak and eastern Tehran killed at least 45 civilians and injured many others; overall, Iran claims that the war has killed >1,255 people and wounded about 10,000. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi vowed that Iran would fight “as long as necessary”, while parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf promised a “harsh response” to attacks on residential areas.
• Leadership changes. Iran’s Assembly of Experts appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on the first day of the war. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians rallied in Tehran to show support for him. U.S. President Donald Trump said he was “not happy” with Iran’s new leader and claimed that Iran would have used a nuclear weapon against Israel if it had one.
• U.S. casualties and war aims. Reuters, citing U.S. officials, reported that up to 150 U.S. service members have been wounded since the conflict began; the Pentagon later confirmed about 140 wounded, with most injuries minor and 108 troops returned to duty. Seven U.S. combat deaths have been publicly acknowledged. Hegseth outlined three near‑term objectives: (1) destroy Iranian missile stockpiles, launchers and defence industries; (2) annihilate Iran’s navy; and (3) permanently deny Iran the ability to obtain nuclear weapons. He stressed that Operation Epic Fury is not a long‑term, nation‑building mission. Trump told Republican lawmakers that the war would end “pretty quickly” but clarified that it would not end this week.

Events by theatre

Iran (domestic)

• Coalition air strikes continued to hit missile stockpiles, ports and industrial sites. Iranian media reported five civilians killed in a strike on a residential building in Arak, and at least 40 killed in a strike on eastern Tehran, with toxic smoke blanketing the capital.

• Large rallies in Tehran showed support for newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

• Iranian officials accused the U.S. of seeking to partition Iran and seize its oil. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said China, Russia and France had contacted Tehran regarding a ceasefire.

• The Iranian army claimed to have launched a drone attack against fuel tanks and a refinery in Haifa, Israel, while missiles were fired at Israel.

Persian Gulf & Gulf states

• Missile and drone interceptions: Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Bahrain reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed a drone east of al‑Kharj and reported limited damage when a drone fell on a residential site in Az Zulfi. Bahrain’s interior ministry reported a drone strike that killed one woman and injured eight people in Manama; Bahrain’s airspace remained closed. Kuwait said it intercepted six drones.

• UAE: Emirati air defences engaged “missiles and drones coming from Iran”.

• International response: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia would deploy a surveillance aircraft and send missiles to the UAE but would not send troops. He also granted visas to five Iranian women footballers facing punishment at home.

United States

• Operational update: Hegseth promised the most intense day of strikes yet. U.S. forces targeted mine‑laying vessels and storage facilities in Iran, and have struck more than 5,000 targets to date.

• Casualties: Reuters reported that up to 150 U.S. service members have been wounded, though most injuries are minor; 108 have returned to duty. Seven U.S. combat deaths have been acknowledged.

• Political statements: Trump said the war could be over “pretty quickly” but not this week. He claimed U.S. strikes had destroyed Iran’s navy and air force and 80–90 % of its missile launchers. He also warned that closing the Strait of Hormuz would trigger “death, fire and fury”. Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin discussed the war and energy crisis.

• Escort mission: Pentagon officials said they were considering escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz but had not announced a plan.

Israel

• The Israeli army said it intercepted missiles launched from Iran and was working to neutralise them. Iran said it had used drones against an Israeli refinery and fuel tanks in Haifa.

• Trump praised U.S.–Israeli cooperation and asserted that Iran was preparing to attack Israel and would have used a nuclear weapon if it had one.

• A construction worker near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport died from shrapnel wounds, raising Israel’s death toll from Iranian attacks to 11.

Lebanon, Iraq & Turkiye

• Iraq:

Prime Minister Shia al‑Sudani told U.S. Secretary of State Rubio that Iraq’s airspace and territory should not be used to attack neighbouring countries. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it hit U.S. headquarters at Harir Air Base in Erbil.

• Lebanon:

Israel ordered residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate again; cross‑border fire and Israeli air strikes continued. The death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon exceeded 486, and nearly 700,000 people have been displaced. A Maronite Catholic priest, Pierre al‑Rahi, was killed by Israeli tank fire after refusing to evacuate.

• Turkiye:

Turkey’s government said NATO air defences shot down a ballistic missile fired from Iran over Turkish airspace—its first such interception.

Infrastructure & global markets

• Oil prices and shipping: Bombardment of Iranian oil facilities pushed crude prices near $120 per barrel; however prices fell to about $90 after Trump threatened to intensify strikes if Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz.
• International measures: G7 finance ministers said they were ready to release energy stockpiles to stabilise markets. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and allies are preparing a defensive mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would work with European customers to address the global energy crisis. Gulf states temporarily halted oil and gas production due to the conflict, further boosting fuel prices.

Notable statements

• Pete Hegseth (U.S. Secretary of War) – He said day 10/11 would see the most intense U.S. strikes of the war with “the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes,” describing the Iranian response as the lowest yet. He accused Iranian forces of firing missiles from schools and hospitals to maximise civilian casualties and argued that Iran stood alone with even former allies abandoning it. Hegseth outlined U.S. objectives of destroying Iran’s missile and naval capabilities and preventing its acquisition of nuclear weapons.
• General Dan Caine (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) – He told reporters that the war is not harder than expected and said the U.S. military is examining ways to escort shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Caine noted that U.S. strikes had targeted more than 5,000 sites and dropped dozens of 2,000‑pound bombs on deeply buried missile launchers.
• President Donald Trump – He asserted the war would be over “pretty quickly” but “not this week,” claiming that U.S. and Israeli forces had destroyed Iran’s navy, air force and most missile launchers. He warned that closing the Strait of Hormuz would provoke “death, fire and fury”. Trump also said he was unhappy with Iran’s new Supreme Leader and that Iran would have used a nuclear weapon against Israel if it possessed one.
• Iranian officials – Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted Iran would fight “as long as necessary” and cast doubt on Trump’s claim that the war would end soon. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf promised a “harsh response” to attacks on residential areas. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said China, Russia and France have approached Iran regarding a ceasefire. The IRGC said it targeted U.S. forces at Harir Air Base in northern Iraq.
• Foreign leaders – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is ready to work with European customers to manage the energy crisis and hinted at cooperation on energy supplies. French President Emmanuel Macron said France and allies are preparing a mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi officials warned that Iranian attacks on the kingdom would severely impact relations. Turkey reported the first interception of an Iranian ballistic missile by NATO air defences.

Assessment

The past 24 hours represented an escalation in both rhetoric and operations. The coalition appears determined to intensify bombardments to hasten Iran’s capitulation, while Iran has signalled an unwillingness to negotiate and continues to fire missiles and drones despite depleted capabilities. Fighting has spilled over into neighbouring states—particularly the Gulf monarchies and Lebanon—raising regional humanitarian and economic costs. International actors are now openly discussing reopening the Strait of Hormuz and releasing energy stockpiles to stabilise markets. With more than 150 U.S. troops wounded and over a thousand Iranian civilians reported dead, the human toll is mounting, and there is no clear path to de‑escalation. Given the targeting of civilian infrastructure and the risk of regional escalation, diplomatic efforts may gain momentum in the coming days despite bellicose public statements.