US Military Conducts Attacks on Iran for Tenth Consecutive Night

The attacks were carried out on the orders of US President Donald Trump as "Commander-in-Chief" of the armed forces. Trump had previously threatened massive retaliation after additional US soldiers were killed. In a post on his platform Truth Social, he declared: "Jedes Mal, wenn Iran einen amerikanischen Soldaten tötet, wird er vielfach dafür bezahlen." At the same time, he stated that he had issued corresponding instructions to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Daniel Caine.

According to CENTCOM, the targets of the new strikes included military facilities, air defense systems, command centers, as well as launch sites for drones and missiles. No details were provided regarding the precise targets of the new strikes. According to CENTCOM, the attacks are intended to weaken Iran's military capabilities to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes are meant to prevent Tehran from attacking ships in the strait again and to pressure the Iranian government into reopening the strait.

Reactions from the Region

Iranian state television reported explosions in the port city of Bandar Abbas, in Isfahan, and in Chabahar. The Iranian news agency Tasnim additionally reported explosions in Konarak in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan as well as in the port city of Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman. The news agency Fars reported multiple explosions in the area of Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz and near Bandar Abbas. The government-affiliated broadcaster Press TV reported on US strikes in the area of the city of Shiraz in the south of the country.

Air defense systems were activated near the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Previously, Iranian President Pezeshkian had declared that his country was in a "vollumfänglichen Krieg" with the United States. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) meanwhile claimed to have carried out counterattacks on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. In a statement by the ground forces of the Iranian Army, it was said: "Die Bodentruppen der Armee nahmen die auf dem Stützpunkt Arifjan in Kuwait stationierten Himars-Raketensysteme der US-Terrorarmee mit Boden-Boden-Raketen ins Visier."

Background: The Strait of Hormuz

According to the Kuwaiti military, the country's air defense intercepted incoming projectiles. Jordan stated on Monday evening that it had shot down three Iranian missiles; no damage or injuries were reported. The Foreign Ministry of Bahrain condemned Iranian drone attacks on the country's air traffic control systems, which had endangered civil aviation.

The background to the escalation is a series of incidents in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the British maritime authority UKMTO, a tanker was hit by an "unknown projectile" approximately eight nautical miles (about 15 kilometers) northeast of the Omani city of Limah. Within 24 hours, two other ships had previously been attacked in the strait. The US accuses Iran of attacking ships on this route; Tehran claims control over the strategically important strait.

The US military had previously urged ships to use a route near the Omani coast through the Strait of Hormuz in order to evade Iranian control. US military circles stated that Iran had previously carried out retaliatory strikes against countries hosting US military bases in the region. In addition, Tehran declared that it no longer felt bound by the preliminary declaration of intent.

Diplomatic Situation and Framework Agreement

The US and Iran had agreed on a framework agreement in mid-June that was intended to pave the way for ending the conflict. A ceasefire had been in effect since April, which Trump recently declared ended. With the new attacks, Washington is continuing its air campaign against Iranian targets, now in its tenth night. The development carries the risk of further regional escalation, as several Gulf states have already been drawn into the crossfire.

The events were reported on July 21, 2026 in the program of Deutschlandfunk. Observers see the ongoing series of attacks as one of the longest uninterrupted US airstrike phases against Iran since the beginning of the current crisis.

Militarily, Washington states that it is pursuing the goal of permanently weakening Tehran's ability to threaten international shipping in the strait. Strategically, the Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the most important sea routes in the world; a significant portion of global oil trade passes through the strait. A sustained disruption would have immediate consequences for the world economy.

Iran has meanwhile announced that it no longer considers itself bound by previous diplomatic agreements. This declaration carries particular weight because the mid-June framework agreement had been regarded as the foundation for a possible de-escalation. With Tehran's breach of these commitments, the prospects for a near-term negotiated solution continue to diminish.

Risks of Further Escalation

The question of a possible expansion of the conflict remains open. Should Iran extend its retaliatory strikes against countries hosting US bases in the region, further Gulf states could be drawn into the conflict. Conversely, with his statements, Trump signaled the willingness to respond to any further harm to American personnel with "multiple" retaliation.

The coming days are considered decisive in determining whether the spiral of violence can be broken or whether further escalation threatens. Diplomatic channels between Washington and Tehran are currently regarded as nearly severed, while military operations continue unabated in parallel.

Overall, the tenth consecutive night of attacks illustrates the scale of the crisis: both sides are relying on military means, while the economic and humanitarian risks for the entire region continue to rise.