B1 Bridge Attack (2026)

B1 Bridge Attack, a military conflict that began on 28 February 2026 between Iran and the United States and Israel, was a joint air operation conducted by the United States and Israel on 2 April 2026 against the B1 Bridge in the city of Kerec, located in Iran’s Alborz Province near Tehran. The attack occurred in two separate waves on the same day, resulting in eight fatalities and 95 injuries.

Location and Features of the Bridge

The B1 Bridge is a large-scale infrastructure project connecting Tehran, the capital of Iran, with the city of Kerec in Alborz Province, spanning the Karaj River. It is situated along the Chalus Road route and forms a critical segment of the mountainous highway linking Tehran to the Caspian Sea.

B1 Bridge in Kerec, Iran, 2 April 2026 – (Anadolu Agency)

The structure measures approximately 1,050 metres in length, 156 metres in height, and 38 metres in width. It features three traffic lanes in each direction along with a separate service lane. Designed by Iranian civil engineers, the bridge is among the region’s major infrastructure projects and is known as “the tallest bridge in the Middle East.”

During the attack, it was reported that the bridge was still under construction and scheduled to open shortly. U.S. officials claimed it had opened in January 2026, while some Iranian media outlets stated it had not yet entered service.

B1 Bridge in Kerec, Iran, 2 April 2026 – (Anadolu Agency)

Chronology of the Attacks

First Attack — Morning of 2 April 2026

In the joint U.S.-Israel air operation, the B1 Bridge near the Azimiye district of Kerec was targeted. As a result, the central section of the bridge partially collapsed, and several individuals were injured.

Power outages were reported in the area during and immediately after the attack. Two people were killed in the first strike.

Second Attack — Afternoon of 2 April 2026

Several hours after the first attack, a second air strike was launched against the same bridge while rescue and aid teams were operating in the area. This second strike caused further significant damage to the structure.

Videos published on social media showed the bridge largely destroyed after the attacks. Following the second strike, power lines along the Chalus Road route were reported to have been disrupted.

Casualties and Damage

According to an official statement by the Alborz Provincial Government, eight people were killed and 95 injured in the attacks. Among the deceased were civilians in vehicles near the bridge and individuals spending time in the area to observe Nature Day.

Statements by the Parties

United States

B1 Bridge in Kerec, Iran, 2 April 2026 – (Anadolu Agency)

U.S. defense officials told Axios that the rationale for the attack was the bridge’s alleged use by Iranian armed forces to transport missiles and missile components from Tehran to launch sites in western Iran. The same statement asserted that these components were concealed inside large containers and crates transported across the bridge and assembled at launch locations.

Another defense official described the bridge as a “planned military supply route sustaining Iran’s ballistic missile and attack drone capabilities.” U.S. President Donald Trump announced the strike on Truth Social with the following statement: “The largest bridge in Iran is being destroyed and will never be used again — more is coming!”

In the same post, Trump also said to Iran: “It is now time for Iran to make a deal before it is too late, and nothing may remain of its potential to be a great nation.”

Iran

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a statement on social media, declared: “Targeting incomplete bridges and other civilian structures will not force the Iranian people to surrender.”

In the same statement, Araghchi characterized U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran’s civilian infrastructure as “a sign of the enemy’s defeat and collapse,” asserting that the destroyed structures would be rebuilt even stronger, but that the United States’ damaged reputation could not be repaired.

Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations described the attack as part of a series of operations by the U.S. and Israel targeting civilian infrastructure, stating: “You are clearly threatening to bomb our energy infrastructure and push Iran back into the Stone Age. Apparently, these facts are not reaching Australian and European Union officials, or they do not wish to condemn them. Instead, you criticize Iran’s legitimate defense. The world and history will judge you.”

Developments After the Attack

Following the attacks, Iran’s semi-official news agency Fars News Agency published a list of major bridges in neighboring countries. Analysts assessed that the list may signal a potential retaliatory intent. The following structures were included on the list:

• Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Sea Bridge in Kuwait
• King Fahd Causeway (Al-Hubur) connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
• Sheikh Zayed Bridge in the United Arab Emirates
• Sheikh Khalifa Bridge in the United Arab Emirates
• King Hussein Bridge in Jordan
• Adam Bridge in Jordan
• Abdun Bridge in Jordan

According to Axios, the attack marked the first time the United States targeted civilian infrastructure within Iran. The same report noted that U.S. military officials had indicated the possibility of additional strikes targeting energy, water, and transportation infrastructure.