Bandar Abbas hit by explosions amid Iran-US-Israel tensions; port city in Iran’s Hormozgan Province, key naval hub.
On January 31, 2026, a gas explosion at an eight-story residential building in Bandar Abbas killed one and injured 14. Iranian authorities denied claims of a targeted attack on Revolutionary Guard naval commanders amid rising US-Iran tensions. Separately, a gas blast in Ahvaz killed four. Iran and the US remain locked in a tense standoff with ongoing naval exercises and diplomatic talks.
A blast at an Iranian building near the Strait of Hormuz injured at least 14 people, just before Iran's planned naval exercises. The incident occurs amid heightened US-Iran tensions, with warnings of potential military action and ongoing regional negotiations.
Planet Labs has announced an indefinite restriction on satellite imagery of the Middle East at the request of the US government. The move follows the escalation of the US-Israel military campaign against Iran, which began on February 28. The restriction aims to prevent adversaries from using imagery for attacks, with images now released only on a case-by-case basis during the ongoing conflict. The conflict has seen Iran retaliate with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and Gulf states, with significant damage reported at military sites and strategic locations across the region.