The US military buildup and the expanding nightly campaign against Iran suggest preparations may be underway for a broader operation around the Strait of Hormuz.

The US has now carried out strikes for eight consecutive nights. The pattern of attacks appears designed not only to hit immediate targets, but also to isolate Bandar Abbas, disrupt access routes and build the operational conditions for a wider campaign in the Hormuz region.

At the same time, threats from senior Iranian officials are becoming more severe, while Iranian attacks are expanding in scale and causing growing damage across Arab states.