US military targets Iran with latest wave of strikes

US military targets Iran with latest wave of strikes

The United States has launched two waves of air attacks against Iran's coastal defenses and missile sites on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, coinciding with the reimposition of a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Iran responded by targeting U.S. Military installations in neighboring Gulf states, describing the escalating conflict as an existential war with America.

U.S. Central Command (Centcom) reported that the first wave of strikes began around 6:00 a.m. EDT, focusing on cruise missile storage and launch sites as well as coastal defense systems on Greater Tunb Island. This initial 90-minute operation was followed nine hours later by a second wave of strikes hitting multiple cities. Centcom stated these actions were designed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten innocent mariners in the Strait of Hormuz.

Targets included command centers, air defense sites, and coastal surveillance facilities. Specific locations hit included the port city of Bandar Abbas, which houses the largest Iranian port and key Revolutionary Guard facilities. BBC Verify authenticated video of strikes in coastal cities including Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, and Chabahar. Further explosions were reported in Konarak, Sirik, Qeshm, and the central city of Khondab. In Tehran, state media reported that air defenses were triggered to counter hostile threats.

The human cost of recent hostilities is mounting. Iranian health officials report that U.S. Attacks in July have killed 35 people. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani stated at least 30 civilians were killed in southern Iran in recent days. Additionally, the Iranian army reported seven active-duty and conscript personnel were killed at the Bampur military base. In Ahvaz, the evacuation of a pediatric cancer center was required after strikes hit a nearby location.

Tehran retaliated by striking U.S. Military targets in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) specifically targeted a radar system and a gathering of U.S. Personnel at the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait using missiles and drones. In Jordan, the IRGC said it hit fuel storage facilities and communication systems. Jasem al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, condemned the attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan as treacherous.

The conflict is centered on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments before the war. Iran closed the strait late on Saturday, and the IRGC stated it will remain closed until the end of America’s evils. This closure, combined with the U.S. Blockade resumed on Tuesday, has stalled tanker traffic and pushed Brent crude oil to a one-month high of $84.95 a barrel on Wednesday.

The U.S. Military has also targeted maritime assets. Centcom reported disabling an unladen, Curacao-flagged oil tanker with Hellfire missiles after it ignored warnings while sailing toward Kharg Island. Since resuming the blockade, the U.S. Has redirected two ships and disabled another.

These events follow a broader campaign dubbed Operation Epic Fury, which began with U.S. And Israeli strikes on February 28. Centcom and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) report that nearly 2,000 targets have been struck, including the IRGC joint headquarters in Tehran. The operation resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and 49 other senior leaders, according to President Donald Trump. The IDF also targeted a covert underground compound in Minzadehei to remove components of Iran's nuclear weapons capability.

President Trump has signaled a willingness to escalate further. On Tuesday, he threatened to target Iranian energy infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, if Tehran does not return to negotiations. He stated on Monday that the operation could last four to five weeks. However, Trump also highlighted a gesture of Goodwill on Wednesday when Iran freed Dena Karari, an American woman who had been wrongfully detained since December 2024.

Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, maintains that Iranian security depends on its arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz and stated there is no reason to abide by agreements that do not benefit the country. Iran's military spokesperson added that the strait would only reopen if the U.S. Complies with a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed in June.

As the situation remains volatile, analysts suggest Iran may use Houthi allies in Yemen to shut the Bab al-Mandeb strait, potentially blocking a quarter of the world's energy shipments.