FLORIDA, U.S., July 18 (ANI): U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the U.S. military has completed its seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran.
Detailing the scope of the operation, CENTCOM said U.S. forces employed fighter aircraft, aerial drones, warships, and other military assets to strike surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage facilities, and maritime capabilities.
According to the military, the operations concluded at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time on July 17 (1:30 a.m. GMT on July 18).
Washington said pressure on Tehran would continue under direct orders from the president.
“CENTCOM continues to hold Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief’s direction while fully enforcing a naval blockade against Iranian ports,” the statement said.
Highlighting the extensive U.S. military presence in the region, CENTCOM said more than 50,000 American service members are operating across the Middle East and remain “vigilant, lethal, and ready.”
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that the latest U.S. strikes killed three people and injured eight others in the southern province of Hormozgan.
According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, citing Hormozgan’s deputy governor for political, security, and social affairs, the casualties occurred after what officials described as “enemy attacks” struck multiple locations across the province.
The latest bombardment, which CENTCOM said on X was intended to “continue degrading Iranian military capabilities” under the direction of President Donald Trump, has prompted a rapid military response from Tehran across the Gulf region.
Amid the escalating hostilities, Tehran claimed to have disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that two oil tankers exploded after entering what it described as a mined route south of the strait.
In a statement carried by IRNA, the IRGC alleged the vessels were attempting to navigate the passage under the guidance of “deceptive American intelligence agencies.” However, it did not identify the tankers or provide evidence to support the claim.
The IRGC also claimed to have stopped four commercial vessels attempting to pass through the strategic waterway. Those claims could not be independently verified.
The current escalation comes as Washington appears to be expanding the scope of its military operations against Tehran. While President Trump had previously threatened to target Iranian infrastructure, U.S. defense officials have not confirmed whether the latest strikes hit civilian or strategic facilities.
Iran, meanwhile, accused U.S. forces of targeting civilian infrastructure, including an airport, a railway station, and two bridges.
Tehran also claimed to have struck U.S. military assets across the region, although those claims could not be independently verified.
Senior Iranian officials warned that Tehran is prepared to significantly escalate the conflict if U.S. military operations continue.
Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a senior military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran would shift to “full-scale offensive operations” if U.S. strikes continued for another two to three days.
“Iran will no longer limit itself to retaliatory, like-for-like responses, and no political border will be safe,” Rezaei said, according to Iranian state media.
Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force Commander Majid Mousavi also vowed that Iranian missile and drone operations would continue until the United States halts attacks on Iran’s southern coastal installations and areas surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict has increasingly drawn Gulf nations into the confrontation.
Kuwaiti authorities reported that an Iranian strike damaged a domestic power and water facility, prompting officials to ask residents to conserve electricity.
The Kuwaiti military also said several service members were injured after Iranian drones targeted multiple military sites.
Meanwhile, the IRGC claimed it struck American radar installations and military aircraft stationed in Qatar, while Qatari authorities said their air defense systems intercepted incoming missiles.
Tehran also claimed to have struck two American radar sites in Oman and targeted the Al-Tanf military garrison in Syria.
In Amman, the Jordanian military confirmed intercepting three Iranian missiles.
Bahrain, meanwhile, advised residents to seek shelter after Iranian state media claimed that U.S. aircraft and helicopters stationed at an island air base had been targeted.
Commercial shipping continues to face growing disruption. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that a commercial tanker was struck by a projectile off the coast of Oman overnight as attacks on vessels transiting near the Strait of Hormuz continued.
Despite international appeals for both sides to return to negotiations, there have been no signs of a diplomatic breakthrough, with the ongoing exchange of strikes raising fears of a broader regional war. (ANI)
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