US forces launch new wave of strikes against Iran
Washington, July 19
US forces launched a new round of strikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief's direction, the US Central Command said in a statement.
"Today at 6 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began launching new airstrikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief's direction," CENTCOM posted on X.
"The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night," according to the command.
Early on Saturday, the command said that two US service members were killed and one remains missing after a strike on a base in Jordan on Friday.
The deaths bring the total number of US military personnel killed to 16 since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28.
Earlier, US forces ended the seventh consecutive night of strikes against Iran on July 17 at 9:30 p.m. ET.
"U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) hit surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities. U.S. forces employed fighter aircraft, aerial drones, and warships in addition to other assets," accoring to the command.
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 adding, "More than 50,000 American service members are operating across the Middle East and remain vigilant, lethal, and ready."
The United States has launched waves of strikes on military sites and infrastructure in Iran's southern provinces in the past week, claiming they were aimed at "degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping" in the Strait of Hormuz.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Another wave of strikes? 😔 These wars never end well. India already heavily imports oil from the Middle East; any disruption in Hormuz will make our petrol prices skyrocket. The government needs to strengthen ties with both Iran and US to keep our interests safe.
The US is escalating fast—50,000 troops, naval blockade, and now continuous airstrikes. This could spiral into a wider conflict. India's diaspora in the Gulf might be affected. Hope our embassy is preparing contingency plans for evacuation if things go south. 🤞
Respectfully, both sides are at fault here. US strikes are "degrading" but causing casualties; Iran's attacks provoked this. As an Indian, I think we should push for UN mediation instead of letting this continue. War never solves anything—just creates more hatred. 🕊️
16 US soldiers dead—that's tragic. But what about the civilian casualties in Iran? The strikes are hitting surveillance sites and storage facilities, but we never hear the full story. India should champion peace, not pick sides. Our non-alignment history matters more than ever. 🇮🇳
Looking at this from a business perspective: Strait of Hormuz closure means oil prices jump, logistics suffer. Indian refineries import heavily from Iran and Iraq. We should diversify our energy sources—maybe invest more in solar and wind? Long-term, this instability is bad for everyone. 😕
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.