US forces strike Iran for 9th consecutive night: CENTCOM
Washington, July 20
The United States has launched a new wave of military strikes against Iran, marking the ninth consecutive night of operations, according to the US Central Command.
In a post on X, CENTCOM said the latest strikes began Sunday at 7 p.m. ET (US time) and are aimed at weakening Iran's military capabilities.
"CENTCOM began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran at 7 p.m. ET today for the ninth consecutive night. The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz."
Earlier, CENTCOM announced that it had completed another round of strikes against Iran on July 18 at 11:30 p.m. ET, saying the operation was carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief.
Describing the previous operation, CENTCOM said US forces targeted a range of Iranian military assets, including coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites.
"During the eighth consecutive night of U.S. strikes, CENTCOM forces successfully hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities. American military assets also targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces that launched attacks against U.S. service members in Jordan on July 17.
More than 50,000 U.S. men and women in uniform are operating across the Middle East. They remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready."
The latest strikes come amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the United States continuing operations it says are intended to degrade Iran's military capabilities.
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
I understand the US is protecting its interests, but bombing a country for nine nights straight? That's not "degrading capabilities," that's collective punishment. The civilians in southern Iran must be terrified. We saw what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan—this never ends well. 😔
As someone who works in maritime logistics, I can tell you the Strait of Hormuz is critical for global trade—about 20% of the world's oil passes through it. Iran's attacks on commercial vessels are unacceptable. But nine nights of strikes feels disproportionate. Diplomacy should have been exhausted first.
India is in a tough spot here. We have good relations with both the US and Iran. But if the situation escalates, our diaspora in the Gulf could be at risk. The government should be preparing evacuation plans just in case. This is not our war, but we'll feel the consequences. 🌍
Honestly, I'm tired of the US acting like the world's police. They destabilize the Middle East, then blame others for the chaos. Iran's aggression is wrong, but continuous bombing is just creating more terrorists. India should stay neutral and focus on protecting its own interests.
I served in the Middle East, and let me tell you—these "degradation" strikes never work in the long run. You bomb their infrastructure, they rebuild. You kill their fighters, their sons join the cause. The US needs a real strategy, not just nightly airstrikes. Praying for peace in the region. 🇮🇳✌️
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.