Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Jul 21: The United States military carried out its 10th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran late Monday, intensifying efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after renewed attacks by Tehran and the deaths of additional American service members.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest strikes were aimed at further degrading Iranian military capabilities used to target commercial shipping in the strategic waterway.
The escalation followed fresh Iranian attacks on US allies Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. Kuwait said its air defence systems intercepted incoming projectiles, while Jordan claimed it shot down three Iranian missiles without casualties. Bahrain condemned Iranian drone strikes targeting its air traffic systems, calling them a threat to civilian aviation.
Despite the worsening conflict, diplomatic efforts continued, with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arriving in Pakistan for talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other officials. Pakistan, which has been mediating between the two sides, expressed hope of reviving negotiations after last month's ceasefire agreement collapsed.
The temporary truce, signed last month to halt hostilities, has effectively fallen apart as both sides resumed attacks on military positions and key infrastructure. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which around one-fifth of global oil supplies normally pass, has been severely disrupted.
Adding to concerns over global energy security, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, saying they would block shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The move threatens Saudi Arabia's alternative oil export route after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The prolonged conflict has pushed global oil prices higher. Benchmark Brent crude traded above USD 88 per barrel on Monday, while average petrol prices in the United States rose to around USD 4 per gallon.
The US military identified two soldiers killed in attacks in Jordan, with another service member reported missing. Separately, another American soldier died in Iraq during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone. Since the conflict began on February 28, 17 US service members have been killed.
President Donald Trump warned on social media that Iran would face severe consequences for every American soldier killed. He is expected to attend a ceremony at Dover Air Force Base on Tuesday to receive the remains of at least one fallen service member.
According to CENTCOM, the latest strikes targeted Iranian military command centres, air defence systems, coastal surveillance facilities, missile and drone launch sites, maritime capabilities and communications networks. Earlier operations had also struck bridges and port infrastructure.
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that at least one person was killed near Tabriz in northwestern Iran during the latest attacks. The report said strikes also hit Bandar Imam Khomeini in Khuzestan province, Sirik and Jask in Hormozgan province, and Konarak and Chabahar in Sistan and Baluchistan province.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a second commercial vessel was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz near the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Another ship caught fire after being struck near Oman, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel, which remained adrift and ablaze for several hours.
The US military has advised commercial ships to use routes closer to Oman to reduce exposure to Iranian-controlled waters. Iran's Revolutionary Guard later claimed responsibility for targeting tankers in the strait.
The United States has also reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports in an effort to halt the country's crude oil exports. The US military said it has redirected seven vessels and disabled another ship over the past week.
Pakistan has stepped up diplomatic efforts to restore the collapsed ceasefire. Speaking in Islamabad, Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed optimism about the talks, saying he hoped there would be "good news."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remained open to negotiations with Iran, provided the process was genuine.
Iranian authorities said at least 50 people were killed and 517 injured in the latest round of US airstrikes, underscoring the growing human toll as the conflict shows no signs of easing.