The United States has launched a sustained wave of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities across the country while enforcing a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. The military operations, which began on July 15, 2026, follow the collapse of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last month that was intended to end the conflict between the two nations.
As of Thursday, the fighting has expanded significantly, with US strikes hitting targets in northern Iran and near the capital, Tehran, for the first time in this latest round of violence. Iranian officials report that the strikes have resulted in at least 35 deaths and more than 300 injuries.
Strategic Targeting in the Strait of Hormuz
US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the primary objective of the air campaign is to degrade Iranian military assets used to threaten vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international waterway for global energy commerce. Operations have targeted command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities.
Specific locations hit during the multi-day offensive include Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Greater Tunb Island, Sirik, Chabahar, Konarak, Rask, Khondab, Khorramabad, and Semnan. In Ahvaz, a hospital was forced to evacuate 211 patients after reportedly being struck.
To enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports, the US military has utilized Hellfire missiles to disable vessels attempting to transit the area. On Wednesday, US forces fired upon a Curacao-flagged oil tanker, the M/T Belma, and on Thursday, they targeted another unladen tanker attempting to reach Kharg Island. According to CENTCOM, the Belma was disabled after ignoring warnings, effectively stopping its transit to Iran.
Regional Retaliation and Military Escalation
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian army have responded with retaliatory strikes against US military assets across the Middle East. Iranian forces claimed to have targeted US radar systems, communications, and fuel depots at the Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait and the al-Azraq airbase in Jordan. Additionally, drones were reported to have targeted Patriot missile systems at the Sheikh Isa airbase in Bahrain.
In Iraq, Kurdish forces reported that the US-led coalition intercepted eight explosive-laden drones over Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region, near the US consulate. Jordan’s armed forces confirmed they intercepted eight Iranian missiles on Thursday.
Diplomatic Breakdown and Future Threats
Despite the intensification of hostilities, mediated talks between the US and Iran have not formally ended. However, Iranian parliament speaker and lead negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the memorandum of understanding is losing its viability. “If Iran is not to derive any benefit from the memorandum of understanding, we have no reason to adhere,” Ghalibaf stated, characterizing the conflict as an “existential” battle.
President Donald Trump has maintained a hardline stance, warning of further escalation if Tehran does not return to the negotiating table. “Next week it gets really bad for them,” Trump said, threatening to target Iranian power plants and bridges. He has also suggested the possibility of striking “Pickaxe Mountain,” a fortified facility linked to Iran’s nuclear program.
Conversely, the IRGC has threatened to halt all energy exports from the region, declaring that if the US-led naval blockade continues, “the export of oil and gas from the region will be either for everyone or for no one.”
Limited Signs of Goodwill
Amid the military escalation, a rare diplomatic gesture occurred on Wednesday when Iran released Dena Karari, an American citizen who had been detained in the country since 2024. President Trump acknowledged the release on his Truth Social platform, thanking Iran for the “gesture of goodwill.” Human rights attorney Jared Genser confirmed that Karari is safe and returning to the United States.
As the situation remains volatile, the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz has caused oil prices to rise. Brent crude is currently trading above $85 a barrel, representing a 15% increase since the conflict began, though it remains below the peak levels seen earlier in the year. For residents in the region, the uncertainty persists; civilians have reported widespread fear as air defenses activate over major cities and the sounds of explosions become a daily reality.
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