U.S. forces concluded a 12th consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran on Thursday, July 23, 2026, targeting military and infrastructure sites to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict has entered a volatile new phase where the distinction between military and civilian targets is blurring. On Thursday, the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the end of its latest round of strikes, marking 12 straight nights of bombing. According to Aljazeera, these operations resulted in at least two deaths.
Targeting the Power Grid and Transit Hubs
The latest wave of attacks began at 1:00 a.m. Iran time on Thursday. CNN Arabic reports that CENTCOM targeted military command centers, air defense, coastal surveillance, and drone launch sites. However, the strikes extended into critical infrastructure.
In Khuzestan province, a missile strike hit the passenger terminal at the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq, killing two people. Other reported impacts include a power station near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which caused a two-hour blackout in a nearby village. Explosions were also reported in the cities of Ahvaz and Ramshir, as well as Sirik in Hormozgan province, according to Aljazeera.
This shift toward infrastructure follows a direct ultimatum from President Donald Trump.
From now on, every time Iran fires on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz—whether by missile, drone, or any other weapon—the United States will bomb and destroy a bridge or a power station, including those located in or near Tehran. President Donald Trump, via Al Jazeera
Iranian Retaliation in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan
Tehran has responded by expanding the conflict beyond its own borders. The Kuwaiti army reported that its air defenses intercepted Iranian drone attacks. The Kuwaiti General Staff clarified that sounds of explosions—if heard—are the result of air defense systems intercepting enemy attacks, as reported by A5r5br.
The Revolutionary Guards targeted infrastructure in Bahrain, claiming this was retaliation for a U.S. strike on the construction site of the planned Darkhovin nuclear power plant. Additionally, MSN/Reuters reported that Iranian forces targeted accommodation facilities for U.S. military personnel at Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Air Base. In Jordan, officials confirmed the interception and destruction of five Iranian drones.
Casualties and Economic Fallout
The human cost is mounting on both sides. U.S. troop deaths rose to 17. One service member was killed in Iraq during the controlled detonation
of a downed Iranian drone.
The instability has triggered a global energy shock. Brent crude rose above $90 a barrel, and the average price of regular gasoline in the U.S. climbed to $4 per gallon. These figures reflect a wider disruption of oil flows, with military.com noting that shipments have been reduced by 10% of global supply due to the war in the Gulf.
The Struggle for the Strait of Hormuz
The central objective of the U.S. campaign is the control of the Strait of Hormuz. To halt crude oil shipments, the U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports last week, disabling one ship and redirecting six others. The UKMTO reported a vessel caught fire in the Strait after being hit by a projectile near the coast of Oman.
While the U.S. pushes for maritime dominance, diplomatic efforts remain fragile.
The conflict’s scope continues to broaden. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, threatening ships in any location. A full closure of the Bab el-Mandeb gateway could further reduce global oil supply by 7%, potentially compounding the existing crisis in the Gulf.
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