US launches 10th straight night of strikes on Iran as Trump vows retaliation | Today’s news
The United States carried out a 10th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran late on Monday (July 21), intensifying its campaign to weaken Tehran’s military capabilities amid a widening regional conflict that has spilled over into the Persian Gulf.
The latest attacks came after another US service member was killed and Iran launched new attacks targeting US allies, including Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain.
US launches new strikes
This was announced by the US Central Command (CENTCOM). that US forces have launched another round of strikes targeting Iranian military facilities allegedly linked to attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Quick answers to key questions
•5 QUESTIONS
US airstrikes on Iran aim to degrade Iranian military capabilities that threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, following increased attacks on US allies and the deaths of US military personnel.
Iran has retaliated with missile attacks targeting US allies, including Bahrain and Kuwait, as part of a strategy to escalate the conflict and punish those who cooperate with the US.
The US has targeted a number of Iranian military assets, including command centers, air defense systems, missile-launching facilities and naval capabilities linked to threatening merchant shipping.
Yes, given Iran’s history of retaliating against US actions, further Iranian attacks on US forces or allies in the region are expected as tensions remain high.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical hub for global oil transportation, making it a strategic flashpoint in the US-Iranian conflict, as a disruption there could have major consequences for international trade and energy supplies.
“The attacks are designed to further degrade Iran’s military capabilities used to attack commercial shipping” in the strategic waterway, CENTCOM said in the statement on X.
The latest operation marks the 10th night in a row of US military action against Iran following the collapse of a temporary ceasefire last month.
Trump vows retaliation after US soldiers die
The latest strikes followed the deaths of US service members in Jordan and Iraq.
The Pentagon has identified two soldiers killed in Iranian missile and drone attacks in Jordan, while another US service member died in Iraq during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone.
President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to Tehran in response to the death.
“Every time Iran kills an American soldier, they pay for that killing many times over!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump is expected to attend a ceremony at Dover Air Force Base on Tuesday to receive the remains of at least one fallen service member.
The US is launching a ninth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military targets
The United States launched a ninth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military infrastructure that Washington said was used to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, as the conflict between the two countries continued to escalate.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest wave of strikes hit a wide range of Iranian military assets, including command centers, air defense systems, coastal surveillance equipment, missile and drone launchers, naval capabilities and communications networks.
In a statement posted on social media, CENTCOM said the attacks were aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to conduct military operations and disrupt shipping on the strategically important waterway.
The latest operation follows a series of US attacks over the past nine days. Last week, US forces also struck bridges and a communications tower in an Iranian port as part of efforts to weaken Tehran’s military infrastructure.
Iranian media reports on casualties
Iran’s state news agency IRNA said at least one person was killed in the latest US strikes near the northwestern city of Tabriz, which is about 520 kilometers from the capital Tehran.
Tabriz is believed to host underground missile facilities operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), making it a key strategic military location.
IRNA also reported that US strikes likely targeted several other locations across Iran, including Bandar Imam Khomeini in Khuzestan province, Sirik and Jask in Hormozgan province, and the southeastern cities of Konarak and Chabahar in Sistan and Baluchistan province.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of the conflict, with both military operations and commercial shipping increasingly disrupted.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said another commercial vessel was attacked near the United Arab Emirates after a separate ship caught fire near the coast of Oman after being hit by a projectile.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards later claimed responsibility for targeting tankers passing through the strait.
The US has increasingly focused its military campaign on degrading Iran’s naval capabilities, arguing that it threatens one of the world’s busiest oil shipping routes.
The Houthis threaten Saudi oil exports
Another front opened after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced a naval embargo against Saudi Arabia.
The group said it intended to block shipping routes between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, threatening an alternative export route that Saudi Arabia relies on as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slows.
The announcement raised concerns about global energy supplies, which contributed to higher oil prices.
Benchmark Brent crude traded above $88 a barrel on Monday, while average US gasoline prices climbed to around $4 a gallon.
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Diplomatic efforts continue
Despite the military escalation, diplomatic channels remain active.
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Islamabad for talks with Pakistani leaders as Islamabad continued its efforts to revive talks between Washington and Tehran.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi struck an optimistic tone.
“God willing, we will have good news,” Naqvi said after welcoming Momeni.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said Washington remains willing to act if Tehran shows real intent.
“If the door to diplomacy opens — if the people who want to do something productive for Iran win and take control of that system or take control of the negotiations — that will be a very positive development,” Rubio said.
“Unfortunately, we’re not there tonight.
The human and regional toll is growing
Iranian authorities said at least 50 people were killed and 517 wounded in the latest round of US strikes.
Since the conflict began on February 28, 17 US service members have been killed, according to the Pentagon.
As fighting spreads to more countries, disruptions to shipping worsen and diplomatic efforts struggle to gain traction, the confrontation between Washington and Tehran continues to edge toward a wider regional war.
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