Major Updates
- US Central Command conducted its seventh straight night of air and naval strikes against Iranian military and surveillance sites, targeting underground weapons storage, logistics, and naval capabilities (jpost.com).
- Iranian state media reports at least three killed and eight wounded in Hormozgan province attacks by US forces (aljazeera.com).
- Iran claims to have struck US military bases in Kuwait and Jordan, and Bahrain’s main AI center, using missiles and drones (timesofisrael.com).
- CENTCOM denies IRGC’s claim that two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it false (aljazeera.com).
- Iranian Major General Mohsen Rezaei warns that Iran will launch a “full-scale offensive” if US strikes continue for another two to three days and that no political border will be safe (brecorder.com).
Regional Impact
The escalation is impacting the Gulf region, with Iranian reprisals targeting US-affiliated sites in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain, and disrupting critical maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz amid contested claims about tanker damages.
What to watch next
Whether US strikes continue beyond tonight, which could trigger Iran’s threatened full-scale offensive; credibility and consequences of Iran’s claims on tanker explosions; attempts at de-escalation or diplomatic engagement following heightened regional reprisals.
Related topic hubs
Key figures
- consecutive nights of US strikes
- 7
- Source: CENTCOM via Al Jazeera / Jerusalem Post ([aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/liveblog/2026/7/18/iran-war-live-us-and-iran-exchange-attacks-for-7th-consecutive-night?utm_source=openai))
- reported killed in Hormozgan province
- 3
- Source: Iranian state media via Al Jazeera ([aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/liveblog/2026/7/18/iran-war-live-us-and-iran-exchange-attacks-for-7th-consecutive-night?utm_source=openai))
- reported wounded in Hormozgan province
- 8
- Source: Iranian state media via Al Jazeera ([aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/liveblog/2026/7/18/iran-war-live-us-and-iran-exchange-attacks-for-7th-consecutive-night?utm_source=openai))
Actors
US Central Command (CENTCOM) — US military command
conducted seventh consecutive night of strikes; denied IRGC’s tanker explosion claims
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — Iran’s armed force
claimed two oil tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz (denied by CENTCOM)
Major General Mohsen Rezaei — military advisor to Iran’s supreme leader
warned of full-scale offensive if US strikes continue
Places
Hormozgan province
at least three killed and eight wounded in US strikes reported by Iranian state media
Strait of Hormuz
IRGC claimed tanker explosions; CENTCOM denied the claim
Kuwait (Ali Al Salem Air Base)
Iran claims it struck US military targets there
Jordan (Muwaffaq Salti Air Base)
Iran claims it struck US military targets there
Cite this entry when referencing this briefing.