Iran war continues with US attacks and Iranian attacks
A week after the ceasefire collapsed, and on the seventh night of U.S. attacks on Iranian military targets, Iran launched attacks on America’s Gulf allies.
The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran on July 18, expanding an already expanding military operation across the Middle East after a recent attack in Jordan killed two American service members.
In a July 18 post to X, U.S. Central Command said that U.S. forces launched the attack at 6 p.m. ET “at the direction of the commander in chief.” The military said the operation was aimed at further weakening Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz and “quickly punishing” Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps troops who had launched an attack on U.S. military personnel in Jordan the night before.
Reuters reported on July 18 that Iran’s supreme leader said before the airstrike that the US government would pay for the “escalation of the conflict.”
Two US troops killed, one missing in Jordan attack
Earlier Saturday, Centcom announced that Iranian ballistic missiles and drones attacked U.S. and partner forces in Jordan on July 17, killing two U.S. service members and leaving one missing.
Four more U.S. service members were medically evacuated to a hospital in Jordan, but have since been discharged and others who were treated for minor injuries have returned to duty, the military said.
CENTCOM said it would not release the identities of the deceased and missing service members until at least 24 hours after their families have been notified.
In response to the soldiers’ deaths, Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X on July 18, “Godspeed gentlemen. Their sacrifice only strengthens our resolve.”
Airstrike targets Iranian military forces
The operation continues U.S. military operations targeting Iranian military assets that authorities say threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supplies pass.
Centcom said previous attacks had focused on diminishing Iran’s military capabilities and protecting commercial vessels sailing in the region.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, previously said the campaign was aimed at protecting civilian sailors and holding Iran accountable for attacks that resulted in civilian sailors being killed, injured or missing.
Regional conflicts continue to grow
The latest U.S. attack comes as Iran launches additional attacks against U.S. allies in the region.
Iran targeted Kuwait with ballistic missiles and drones, attacking military facilities and critical infrastructure. Kuwaiti officials said air defense forces thwarted some threats, but some attacks damaged facilities and injured firefighters and oil sector workers who responded to the airstrikes.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it had targeted an alleged U.S. military support base in Kuwait in retaliation for ongoing U.S. operations and warned that additional attacks against U.S. allies could follow.
President Donald Trump defended the expansion of military operations, saying the U.S. offensive would continue until Iran agrees to terms aimed at ensuring regional security and freedom of navigation. Iranian leaders have vowed to continue resisting U.S. military pressure, suggesting the conflict is unlikely to ease in the near future.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or X @athompsonUSAT.
