The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the ninth wave of strikes on Iranian targets has been completed, saying they were aimed at new areas. In Washington, officials stressed that the attacks were a response to the deaths of American servicemembers, while leaving the door open for diplomatic solutions. The bombardments targeted military command centers, air-defense systems, coastal radar, missile and drone launch sites, as well as communications networks—all aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to attack ships and sailors in the Strait of Hormuz.
In Iran itself, casualties and explosions were reported in several southern provinces. State television and agencies said that after CENTCOM announced the end of the wave, strikes resumed. In East Azerbaijan province, one person was killed in an attack on a military site near Tabriz, and several others were injured. West Azerbaijan also reported injuries from shelling in the vicinity of Urmia. Explosions were heard in Isfahan, and in Bushehr province, areas near the nuclear power plant were affected. According to the Tasnim news agency, after a strike on the city of Khorramuj, there were electricity disruptions.
Iran did not retaliate lightly: its armed forces attacked Kuwait and Bahrain. Kuwait’s army said it repelled an attack by Iranian drones, and Bahrain television reported that several air targets were intercepted by air-defense systems—alarms sounded in cities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims that its drones destroyed an American early-warning radar at the Ali as-Salem base in Kuwait, and also struck US Army aircraft at the Aqaba airport in Jordan, damaging them. The Wall Street Journal, citing a US official, confirmed damage to Black Hawk helicopters in Jordan. In addition, the Iraqi opposition party “Kurdistan Workers’ Society” reported a rocket attack on its offices in Erbil.
In comments on the ninth wave, President Donald Trump said the strikes were a response to the deaths of American troops in the region. He noted that Iran had been “almost completely stripped of military capabilities”: they only have a few missiles and drones, along with limited production capacity. At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was ready for “genuine diplomacy,” but stressed that Tehran must first ensure the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, instead of issuing a statement about freedom of navigation, Iran attacks ships. Rubio added that the United States will protect global maritime trade, but other countries must increase financial and material support.
In the Strait of Hormuz itself, the IRGC said two oil tankers had exploded — allegedly while trying to pass through an “unsafe southern route” following advice from American forces. No details about the vessels or crews were provided, but Iranian officials warned that the strait would remain unsafe as long as “American aggression” continues—even for transporting oil and gas. British maritime authorities said an unknown munition hit another vessel near Oman, but the crew abandoned it unharmed. Iranian television reported missile launches against ships off the coast of the UAE, while Reuters noted that ship traffic fell over the weekend amid the escalation.
The conflict coincided with discussions in Israel about the possibility of joining the wave of attacks. One Israeli political source said that, from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s perspective, such a step might not be negative, but it carries serious political risks: weeks of shelling the rear, casualties, and chaos ahead of elections. According to reviews, the standoff between Washington and Tehran has already entered a second week—after on July 8 Trump announced the end of a ceasefire regime recorded in the memorandum of June 18. The escalation began after Iran attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, and the sides still cannot agree on their demands: Iran insists on a mechanism for regulating the passage of ships, while the United States insists on unconditional freedom of navigation.
Comments on the news
- What role does the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) play in Iran’s political and economic life? — The IRGC is an elite politico-military formation subordinate to the supreme leader. It controls a significant share of the economy through foundations and subsidiary companies, participates in suppressing domestic opposition, and also influences regional conflicts (Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq). The IRGC plays a key role as an instrument of Iran’s foreign and domestic policy.
- Why is the nuclear power plant in Bushehr an important target, and what risks do strikes near it create? — The Bushehr nuclear power plant is the only operating Iranian nuclear power station, built with assistance from Russia. It is important for the country’s power supply and serves as a symbol of Iran’s nuclear program. Strikes near the facility carry the risk of damaging the reactor, causing radiation leaks, and triggering an environmental catastrophe, and could also spur large-scale escalation of the regional conflict.
- What is the significance of the Strait of Hormuz for global oil trade, and why does Iran use it as a pressure tool? — About 20% of global oil trade (roughly 17 million barrels per day) passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, controlling the coastline of the strait, periodically threatens to block it to pressure the international community, which could cause a sharp rise in oil prices and a global economic crisis.
- What is the Iraqi opposition party “Kurdistan Workers’ Society,” and why were its offices in Erbil shelled? — “Kurdistan Workers’ Society” (Komal) is a Kurdish political party in Iraqi Kurdistan that advocates for Kurdish rights and criticizes Iranian influence. The shelling of its offices in Erbil is allegedly linked to the activities of pro-Iranian militia groups dissatisfied with the party’s anti-Iran stance, as well as with internal Kurdish disagreements.
Full version: America expands its attacks on Iran and says it is open to a solution, while Tehran strikes Kuwait and Bahrain