US Strikes 80 Targets in Iran After Tanker Attacks; Tehran Warns of Retaliation
The United States military launched fresh strikes against Iran on the night of July 7-8, 2026, hitting over 80 targets, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The operation came after three tankers were struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, an incident Washington attributes to Iranian forces.
CENTCOM said the strikes targeted Iranian air defence systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 small boats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in and near the strait. The US military described the action as an 'immediate response' to what it called Tehran's 'unwarranted aggression' against commercial shipping, adding that the attacks violated a fragile ceasefire and undermined freedom of navigation.
Iran's top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, condemned the US strikes as a 'blatant act of aggression' and vowed a 'crushing response'. It also warned that Tehran would not tolerate US interference in managing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments.
The escalation follows a period of heightened tensions after the US revoked a license allowing Iran to sell oil, further straining relations. Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, which had previously reduced hostilities in the region.
As of now, there are no immediate reports of casualties from the strikes, and it remains unclear whether Iran will follow through on its threat of retaliation. The international community has called for restraint, urging both nations to de-escalate and return to diplomatic channels.
