US forces struck the Darkhovin nuclear power plant on their ninth consecutive night of attacks on Iran, marking the first direct hit on a nuclear power facility in the 2026 conflict and drawing immediate condemnation from Tehran.
The strike on Darkhovin, located in Iran’s southern Khuzestan province, represents an escalation in a campaign that has steadily expanded from military bases to critical energy and nuclear infrastructure. CENTCOM said its ninth night of operations targeted command centres, air defence systems, coastal surveillance facilities, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks.
Why the Darkhovin strike matters
Iran began constructing Darkhovin in 2022 and aimed to complete it by 2030. Because the plant was still under construction, no nuclear material was present and Iranian officials confirmed no radiation leak occurred. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi condemned the attack, insisting the site was for peaceful purposes.
While the US previously struck Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan in June 2025, Darkhovin is the first nuclear power plant itself to be hit. US forces had struck near the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant the previous week, and throughout the initial 38 days of the war several reactors and research centres were targeted. The Darkhovin strike fits a broader pattern of dismantling critical infrastructure along Iran’s southern coast.
Iran retaliates across the Gulf
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed attacks on US military bases and assets in Jordan and Kuwait, consistent with Iran’s stated doctrine of responding as long as US strikes continue. Kuwait’s army reported intercepting a series of drone attacks, with loud sounds heard across the country from the interceptions. The IRGC claimed it struck an ammunition depot and an air defence radar system in Kuwait, though Kuwaiti officials did not confirm that attack and instead focused on recovery from a strike on a power and water desalination plant that drew regional condemnation.
Jordan said it intercepted at least three Iranian missiles, with a further one landing in open ground. Bahrain activated warning sirens through the morning, and the US embassy in Manama warned American citizens that Iran may be planning attacks on the capital, urging precautionary measures.
Strikes expand to Tabriz and Bushehr
For the first time in the conflict, the northwestern city of Tabriz was targeted, with three massive explosions reported. Confirmed details on the Tabriz strikes remain scarce. Separately, the governor of Bushehr province said several locations in the provincial capital were hit, with the scope and extent of damage still under investigation.
Earthquakes add to Iran’s crisis
Compounding the strain on Iran, two earthquakes struck near Kuzaran in the western Kermanshah province within five minutes of each other. The first, a magnitude 5.2, hit at 7:13am local time at a depth of 8km, followed by a magnitude 5.7 quake at a depth of 13km. Three people were wounded. State media reported that water, electricity, and gas networks remained stable, with relief and law enforcement teams dispatched to the area.
Regional diplomacy and the Gaza front
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, affirming Saudi support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and inviting Aoun to visit the kingdom. The call underscored Gulf efforts to stabilise Lebanon as the wider conflict intensifies. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrested five Palestinians in Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank, and Israeli strikes continued on Gaza as right-wing activists gathered at the fence attempting to cross into the enclave.
What Happens Next
The direct strike on Darkhovin signals that no Iranian nuclear site is off limits, raising the stakes for any diplomatic off-ramp. Watch for whether Iran escalates its retaliation against Gulf states hosting US forces, particularly as Bahrain and Kuwait absorb more pressure. The expansion of strikes to Tabriz suggests the US campaign is widening geographically, which could stretch Iran’s air defences further. Oil markets will remain sensitive to any disruption of Gulf shipping or energy infrastructure. With the war now in its ninth night of continuous US strikes and Iran’s reciprocal doctrine in full effect, the trajectory points toward deeper regional entanglement rather than de-escalation.
— Marcus Okafor, world desk, AXO News