American forces struck and split the B1 highway bridge that links Tehran and the western suburb of Karaj on Thursday, shattering a key route as President Donald Trump publicly celebrated the collapse and warned of “much more to follow.” Iranian state outlets reported civilian casualties and said the span was hit in multiple strikes as families marked the final day of Nowruz. The attack is the latest in a campaign of strikes that officials say has escalated over the past month.
U.S. Strike On A Strategic Route
According to The New York Times, an anonymous U.S. military official said American forces hit the B1 span and described it as a planned military supply route for Iran’s missile and drone forces. The Times reported that U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment and that the operation took place as the broader campaign entered its fifth week.
Damage And Local Reporting
Iranian state and semi-official outlets reported multiple hits on the bridge, and Karaj authorities, citing the Fars news agency, said eight people were killed and 95 wounded after emergency teams rushed to the site. State broadcaster IRIB said the span was struck twice about an hour apart. Images published by The Guardian show a clear gap in the center of the structure, and the Israeli Defence Forces told the BBC it was “not aware” of any strikes on Karaj.
Trump's Post And The Timing
President Trump posted a short video of an explosion on his Truth Social feed and wrote that “the biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again,” adding that there was “much more to follow,” according to AP. The strikes hit on Sizdah Bedar, the last day of Nowruz when many Iranians traditionally picnic outdoors, and officials warned that the timing may have increased civilian exposure to harm.
Legal Questions About Infrastructure Strikes
Brian Finucane, a former State Department legal adviser, told The New York Times that whether the bridge met the legal test as a military objective “would depend on the facts,” underscoring how attacks on roads and bridges raise complex questions under the laws of war. Humanitarian groups cautioned that strikes on transport infrastructure carry a high risk of disproportionate civilian harm and could harden negotiating positions.
Diplomatic Fallout
The strike added urgency to diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and limit economic fallout, with Britain convening a virtual meeting of more than three dozen countries and energy markets reacting to renewed supply fears, as reported by AP and other outlets. Officials warned that attacks on major infrastructure risk widening the conflict and make any negotiated end to hostilities harder to achieve.
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