On Saturday, July 11, 2026, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted a statement on social media, declaring, “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay,” while sharing a U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) update regarding a new series of military strikes against Iran. While the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has officially declared the Strait of Hormuz closed “until further notice” following a violent escalation that saw Tehran target commercial vessels in transit, the U.S. response was immediate: CENTCOM launched a third wave of strikes against approximately 140 Iranian military targets, bringing the total number of structures struck to over 300 in just three nights. The strikes followed an offensive by the IRGC Navy against the Cyprus-flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz. According to CENTCOM, the vessel sustained significant damage, and an Indian crew member remains missing. Another commercial vessel was also struck by Iranian forces, while authorities in Muscat reported the rescue of 23 crew members from a separate ship under attack. U.S. Central Command has categorically rejected Iranian claims, stating that the Strait remains open to all vessels wishing to transit legally and confirming the full operational capacity of U.S. forces to ensure freedom of navigation. Since last May, U.S. forces have facilitated the safe passage of over 800 merchant vessels and approximately 400 million barrels of crude oil.
The latest wave of strikes on July 11 and 12 targeted missile sites, air defenses, drone infrastructure, ammunition depots, communication networks, and coastal surveillance posts. The strikes were executed using precision-guided munitions launched from aircraft, drones, and naval units. The United States has accused Iran of violating the previously signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the safe transit of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Conversely, Iran maintains that the U.S. breached the agreement by revoking oil sales waivers and subsequently declared the Strait of Hormuz closed “until further notice.” Despite recent diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region, the exchange of fire has resumed with intensity; in retaliation for the U.S. strikes, Iran has threatened to target “additional enemy bases in the region.” Meanwhile, Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, rejected these actions, stating that “the era of unilateral agreements is over” and demanding that the U.S. honor its commitments. The situation remains highly complex, with both parties trading accusations of provocation as the Strait of Hormuz effectively remains closed to commercial traffic.
The repercussions of this conflict have extended far beyond the Strait. The IRGC claimed to have targeted U.S. military bases in five countries across the region, including Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, Al-Udeid in Qatar, the Juffair base and the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, as well as the Port of Duqm in Oman and infrastructure in Kuwait. Kuwaiti armed forces reported intercepting hostile aerial targets in their airspace. IRGC-affiliated media sources also claimed that a HIMARS missile depot was struck in Kuwait, though these claims have not been independently verified. Further explosions were reported by Iranian media, such as Mehr and Fars, in the Port of Bandar Abbas and the area of Kish Island. The situation remains fluid, with Washington defining the operations as a means to impose a “heavy price” on Tehran for threatening civilian navigation. Of particular concern is a U.S. raid that, according to Iranian sources, struck areas near the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Although there is no confirmation of damage to the reactor or radioactive leaks, an attack on such a site would pose extreme risks of contamination, leading the IAEA to call for urgent attention to the facility’s safety.
On the diplomatic front, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee confirmed that Israel has shared intelligence regarding an Iranian plot to eliminate President Donald Trump, while Iran is reportedly publishing photos of potential targets to be punished, according to social media reports. Diplomacy is giving way to vengeance, and the rhetoric of official communiqués risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. With direct threats to the highest levels of government and the shadow of nuclear risk hovering over the airstrikes, the line between targeted retaliation and total war is becoming increasingly thin.
