New wave of US attacks in Iran

The United States has launched its 13th consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian military targets, escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes occurred on the evening of July 24, 2026, targeting locations associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These included missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance systems, and air defense installations. The operation was described as part of efforts to reduce the threat posed by Iran to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial choke point for global oil trade. The strikes followed a series of incidents involving Iranian attacks on U.S. personnel and vessels. Two American soldiers were reportedly killed in an Iranian strike on Jordanian territory late on Friday, prompting the U.S. to respond with intensified aerial operations. CENTCOM stated that the attacks were intended to “swiftly punish” forces responsible for the assaults and to further degrade Iran’s capability to challenge maritime security. The timing of the strikes coincided with a renewed U.S.-led naval blockade of Iranian ports, which has restricted the movement of ships entering or leaving Iranian waters. Iran has responded with warnings of retaliation, asserting that it will target Gulf states if its own infrastructure is attacked. In a statement posted on social media, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a senior Iranian parliamentarian and chief negotiator, declared that the conflict is a “war of all or nothing.” He emphasized that Iran would prevent the export of oil from the region if its own resources were compromised, stating that the security of the Strait of Hormuz depends on the absence of U.S. military presence in the area. Iranian state media reported that the U.S. had struck several locations in Bushehr, near Iran’s sole operational nuclear power plant, and that two individuals were killed and 11 others injured in a missile strike near the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq. Meanwhile, Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. allies in the Gulf. Reports indicate that Iranian drones and rockets hit two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea, an act attributed to pro-Iranian groups such as the Houthis. The attacks came as part of a broader effort to enforce a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, which Iran claims is necessary to protect its own interests. In response, Saudi Arabia confirmed that one of the tankers, the Encelia, was damaged and caught fire off the coast of Yemen. A second vessel, the Layla, was also reportedly targeted, though details remain unclear. The situation has drawn international concern, particularly regarding the safety of global energy supply chains. British maritime authorities reported that a captain of one of the affected tankers had indicated the vessel was struck approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of the Saudi city of Al-Shuqaiq. The incident has heightened fears of a wider regional conflict, especially given the proximity of the Strait of Hormuz to the heart of the world’s oil trade. The U.S. has repeatedly warned against attacks on commercial shipping, while Iran has threatened to retaliate against critical infrastructure in the Gulf, including oil platforms, refineries, and power stations. President Donald Trump has expressed his stance on the conflict, stating during a public appearance in Georgia that Iran is not yet ready to negotiate a peace deal. He suggested that whenever Iran accepts a compromise, it would attempt to alter the terms, implying a lack of trust in Tehran’s willingness to reach an agreement. Trump also reiterated his position that the U.S. would respond to any Iranian attacks on Gulf shipping by targeting key Iranian infrastructure, including bridges, dams, and power plants. His comments have been interpreted as a veiled threat, reinforcing the perception that the conflict is moving toward a more confrontational phase. As the crisis unfolds, both sides continue to escalate their actions. The U.S. has expanded its military operations beyond southern Iran, targeting locations in western and central regions of the country. Iranian forces, meanwhile, have demonstrated their ability to conduct long-range strikes, hitting U.S. allies in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. The conflict shows no signs of abating, with the potential for further violence increasing as each side seeks to assert dominance over the region’s strategic corridors. The outcome of this standoff will likely shape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East for years to come.