Unverified reports this afternoon show heavy traffic congestion on alternative roads near the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, following attacks on major bridges in the area. Footage circulating on social media depicts long lines of vehicles in extreme heat, according to local sources. The extent of damage to the bridges and the impact on traffic remain unconfirmed by official authorities.
Heavy traffic congestion was reported on alternative routes near the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas this afternoon (Sat Jul 18, 17:06 Jerusalem), as drivers sought to bypass damaged bridges following a series of US strikes over the past 24 hours. Unverified reports from local sources show long queues of vehicles in extreme summer heat, with no official comment from Iranian authorities.
The development follows a day of intensifying reports. At 07:56 Jerusalem, The Zioneer published new footage showing damage to the Bandar Abbas–Shiraz bridge. At 09:57, a wave of reports detailed the overnight strikes: Iranian media reported the destruction of a water desalination plant in Jask; published imagery confirmed heavy damage; additional strikes hit bridges and power infrastructure, leaving an estimated 10,000 residents without water; and the US was reported to have struck five bridges and tunnels linking central Iran to the south, including routes to Bandar Abbas. At 10:24, The Zioneer separately reported that two bridges in Bandar Abbas had been attacked overnight. The reports have remained unverified by independent sources, but the thread shows multiple corroborating channels.
The strikes are part of a broader US campaign against Iranian infrastructure, as The Zioneer reported on Friday (Jul 17). On Friday afternoon, the Iranian Energy Ministry called on southern residents to reduce power use after damage to electricity infrastructure in the Bandar Abbas area, citing extreme heat approaching 50°C. Additionally, a tanker traffic jam was reported near a US-struck bridge in Bandar Abbas on Friday. The current traffic congestion appears to be a further consequence of the damaged transport links.
The extent of damage to the bridges and the precise impact on traffic remain unconfirmed. No official statement from Iranian authorities has been issued, and the reports of congestion are based on unverified social media footage and local sources.
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