US forces continue "round of strikes" against Iran for seventh consecutive night
Washington DC, July 18
US forces on Friday launched another round of military strikes against Iran, marking the seventh consecutive night of operations, as Washington said the campaign is aimed at further degrading Iran's military capabilities.
In a post on X, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, "CENTCOM launched a round of strikes against Iran at 3 p.m. ET today for the seventh consecutive night. The strikes are designed to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities at the Commander in Chief's direction."
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that three explosions were heard in Sirik, a city in Iran's Hormozgan Province.
The latest operation comes amid escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran following the collapse of the 14-point memorandum of understanding between the two sides, with both countries exchanging military strikes in recent days.
A day earlier, CENTCOM announced that US forces had completed another major wave of strikes against Iran, describing it as the sixth consecutive night of military operations.
According to CENTCOM, the strikes involved US fighter aircraft, aerial drones and warships, which launched precision-guided munitions against dozens of Iranian military targets, including coastal surveillance sites, air defence systems, military logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities.
"At the Commander in Chief's direction, CENTCOM is further degrading Iranian military capabilities and holding Iran accountable for recent attacks on commercial shipping," the command said in a statement.
However, the strikes also targeted Iran's civilian infrastructure, killing and injuring several people.
CENTCOM also said that more than 50,000 US service members remain deployed across the Middle East and are "vigilant, lethal, and ready" to respond to evolving security challenges in the region.
Following these strikes, Iran launched a series of retaliatory military operations targeting US naval and military assets across the Gulf region, including in Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman and Syria, with the country's armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) separately announcing strikes under Tehran's ongoing military campaigns.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Seven nights in a row? This is getting out of hand. I understand the need to protect shipping lanes, but hitting civilian infrastructure is a huge red flag. The US says it's "degrading capabilities," but Iran's retaliation is only making things worse. Someone needs to step in—maybe India can mediate? We've done it before in other conflicts.
This is what happens when diplomacy fails. The 14-point MOU collapsing was a major blow. India has always maintained good relations with both Iran and the US—we should be using our position to call for a ceasefire. More strikes will only mean more innocent lives lost. Bharat needs to speak up loud and clear. 🇮🇳
Honestly, from a safe distance this seems like a dangerous escalation. 50,000 US troops deployed, retaliatory strikes hitting US bases in Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan... this isn't just a "round of strikes"—it's a regional conflict brewing. As someone who has friends in the Gulf, I'm worried for everyone caught in the middle. 😔
The casualty figures from civilian infrastructure strikes are deeply concerning. India's foreign policy has always been about non-alignment and peaceful resolution. We must urge both sides to de-escalate. The Gulf region is too volatile for this kind of brinkmanship. Also, our expat workers in that region are vulnerable—time for MEA to issue advisories. 🙏
Seven nights of strikes and Iran firing back at multiple countries—how is this not a full-blown war already? The US says it's "degrading capabilities,"
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