US fighter jets strike military facility near Chabahar Free Trade Zone

US fighter jets have struck military facilities on a mountain near Iran's Chabahar Free Trade Zone, Al Jazeera reported citing Voice of America's Persian-language service, in what appears to be the latest theatre of a rapidly expanding conflict now in its third week.

Intense explosions were heard in the area behind the zone, the report said.



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The Chabahar Free Trade Zone is located in Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province near the border with Pakistan. It hosts both commercial facilities and significant military infrastructure. According to reports, strikes focused on military installations surrounding Chabahar, while the India-funded Shahid Beheshti freight terminal was not hit.

India operates two ports in the region, Chabahar Port in Iran, managed by India Ports Global Limited (IPGL), an Indian government entity, and Haifa Port in Israel, operated by the Adani Group.

Third week of US-Iran-Israel conflict

On February 28, 2026, Israel and the United States launched surprise airstrikes on multiple sites and cities across Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and numerous other Iranian officials. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against Israel, US bases, and US-allied countries in the region.


Also Read: 'Strategic project, symbol of constructive cooperation': Iranian envoy on Chabahar Port

Despite sustaining heavy bombardments since US-Israeli forces launched the war, Tehran has defied Trump's assertion that its military capability has been "100% destroyed."

Iran's attacks and threats have nearly halted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, sending petroleum prices soaring 40 percent and roiling the global economy.

The Pentagon says more than 15,000 targets in Iran have been hit by US and Israeli forces. Since February 28, at least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured in US-Israel attacks on Iran.

How is Chabahar Port significant for India?

For India, Chabahar is far more than a port it is the cornerstone of a decades-long effort to reshape its trade geography and break free from the chokehold of Pakistan-controlled land routes.

Chabahar serves as a strategic gateway for India to access landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian countries, providing an alternative and more direct trade route compared to traditional routes that pass through Pakistan.

Historically, Afghanistan has had to rely on Pakistan's Karachi port for the bulk of its imports and exports. Chabahar provides diversification and reduces dependency on Pakistan.