President Donald Trump said US strikes on Iran “very hard” and described the latest attacks as being carried out “in honour” of three American service members killed in recent days. Two were killed in Jordan and one in Iraq.
In the early hours of Monday local time, US Central Command (Centcom) said it had launched a “new wave” of strikes for the ninth consecutive night. Explosions were reported across Iran as the operation continued.
Ninth night of US strikes
The United States said it targeted military sites and communications networks to “further diminish” what it described as Tehran’s attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state and semi-official media reported widespread impacts, including hits in Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini, according to Tasnim.
US officials said the strikes were aimed at reducing Iranian capabilities rather than at supporting any immediate ceasefire.
Iran reports Syria attack and drone incidents
Iran said it had carried out a “surprise attack” in Syria and targeted US aircraft at Jordan’s Aqaba airport, according to Iranian reports.
Elsewhere in the region, Kuwait’s armed forces said they intercepted Iranian drones, without giving further details.
On the question of damage to shipping, Iranian state media reported that two oil tankers had exploded while trying to cross the strait. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the vessels were travelling via what it called an “unsafe and hazardous southern route” and that they “exploded and were brought to a halt”. Centcom disputed the IRGC’s claims.
The IRGC also said the Strait of Hormuz would not be safe for the transit of petrochemical products, adding that it would not allow “even a single drop of oil and gas” to pass while US strikes continue. It said it would respond with a “punitive operation”.
US deaths and diplomatic talks
Over the weekend, the US confirmed a service member was killed following an Iranian attack in northern Iraq on Saturday.
The death came the day after an attack on a base in Jordan killed two US soldiers and left another missing. The US said “unidentified remains” had been found and that verification was continuing.
As strikes continued between the US and Iran over the weekend, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States “always remains open to a diplomatic solution”.
Rubio also warned that “the world has to decide whether or not it’s going to allow an international waterway to be under the control” of Iran. He said Tehran was using the shipping route as leverage.
His remarks came as a preliminary deal agreed in mid-June to stop fighting appeared to be unravelling. Negotiations for a permanent arrangement had made little progress after Trump declared the accord “over” on 8 July.
The latest exchange of strikes and statements has heightened tensions around shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which remains a key passage for international trade.
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20 July 2026
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