US Pounds Iran in Sustained Strikes; Tehran Strikes Back
The United States military conducted a sustained bombing campaign against Iran on Monday, striking multiple cities along the country’s southern coast in what marked the third consecutive night of American attacks. Iran retaliated by launching missile and drone strikes against US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, as well as attacking two UAE-flagged oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
The escalation came as President Donald Trump held a Situation Room meeting to discuss plans for a significantly expanded military campaign, including potential strikes on the suspected Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site near Natanz, according to Axios. The developments represent the most intense phase yet of the ongoing 2026 Iran War, which began on February 28.
Background: A Ceasefire in Tatters
The war erupted after US-Israeli airstrikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other Iranian officials, triggering a sustained conflict that has drawn in Hezbollah, Houthi forces, and Iraqi militias. After months of fighting, a memorandum of understanding was signed on June 17 by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and by June 28 both sides had agreed to cease attacks.
But the fragile truce collapsed on July 7-8 when Iran allegedly struck commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting renewed US strikes. As Al Jazeera reported, Trump later told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that the MOU was “built to test” Iran, adding: “They didn’t honor the test.”
The Strikes: Five to Seven Hours of Bombardment
US Central Command began the latest round of strikes on Monday evening, employing fighter jets, drones, and naval vessels. Xinhua News reported the operation lasted seven hours, while CENTCOM described it as a five-hour mission.
According to CENTCOM, US forces struck military targets across Iran including Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas. The targets included missile and drone positions, naval forces, coastal defense systems, and radar and air defense installations. Iranian media initially reported four wounded, later revising the figure to seven killed at a military base.
Iran’s Multi-Front Retaliation
Iran responded with a coordinated retaliatory campaign targeting US allies and military assets across the region. As The Times of Israel detailed:
- Bahrain: The US Fifth Fleet at al-Juffair Base was hit with missiles and drones. Air sirens sounded four times as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed to have struck weapons storage depots, a satellite communications center, and a building housing US forces.
- Kuwait: Iranian forces launched drone attacks on a US Patriot missile system, fuel tanks, a watchtower, an ammunition depot, and communication systems.
- Jordan: A US airbase was targeted with ballistic missiles. Jordan’s military intercepted and shot down four missiles that entered its airspace from Iranian territory.
- Strait of Hormuz: Two UAE-flagged oil tankers — the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah — were hit by Iranian cruise missiles, killing one Indian national and wounding eight others, including six Indians and two Ukrainians. The UAE Defense Ministry said it “reserves its full right to respond to this escalation.”
Trump’s Expanding War Plans
Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday, Trump signaled the campaign was far from over. “We’re knocking out all of their offensive capability and we’re controlling the straits,” he told reporters, as reported by ABC Australia.
Trump also threatened to strike the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site, telling the Hugh Hewitt Show: “Pickaxe is a possible target for a nice big fat shot right near the front door.” The site, tunneled into a mountain near the main Natanz nuclear facility, has been the subject of intense scrutiny, with satellite images showing recent construction and vehicle activity there.
The US reinstated a naval blockade covering Iran’s entire southern coastline, effective July 14. Trump also proposed charging a 20% fee for passage through the Strait of Hormuz — a proposal he later appeared to back away from, according to Bloomberg.
Economic Shockwaves
The renewed hostilities sent shockwaves through global energy markets. Brent crude surged to approximately $81-84 per barrel, its highest level since mid-June. Ship-tracking firm Kpler reported that crossings through the Strait of Hormuz fell by about 52% between July 10 and July 12 compared with the previous week, according to Al Jazeera.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s traded crude oil and natural gas passes. Iran’s parliamentary committee has introduced a bill asserting control over the strait, with committee head Ebrahim Azizi declaring: “We remain steadfast in defending our red lines, particularly regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz.”
What Comes Next
The collapse of the June MOU has locked the US and Iran into an escalating cycle of strikes and counterstrikes. Tehran has vowed a “decisive response” after seven were reported killed in the latest US attacks. Meanwhile, Trump’s threat to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure raises the prospect of an even wider conflict.
Key questions remain: Will Trump follow through on the threat to hit Pickaxe Mountain? Will the UAE retaliate against Iran, potentially drawing a major Gulf power deeper into the conflict? And can diplomacy be revived, or is the region locked into a trajectory of escalation?
As the world watches, the Strait of Hormuz — the artery of global energy trade — has become the central battleground in a war that shows no signs of abating.