U.S. Launches 10th Straight Night of Iran Strikes as Tanker Attacks and American Casualties Raise New Fears
US military operations against Iran continued Monday as tensions remained high in the Middle East. The latest developments followed a weekend of attacks, military warnings, and growing concerns about security in the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict has turned into a day-to-day military campaign, with the United States carrying out new operations while saying talks with Iran are still ongoing. The Pentagon then announced that the next phase of the operation was already underway.
The New York Post reported that US forces carried out a tenth consecutive night of strikes against Iran on Monday. The operation came hours after President Donald Trump vowed Iran would pay “many times over” following the deaths of three American service members.
The next phase of the campaign came with a noticeable shift
CENTCOM said Monday’s operation ran from 4 p.m. to about 9 p.m. ET under President Trump’s direction. The military announced the new round of strikes on X, stating, “Today at 4 pm ET, US forces began a new round of strikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction.”
CENTCOM said the mission was aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. “The strikes are designed to further degrade Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.”
American forces struck Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems. CENTCOM also released a video showing several structures being destroyed during the operation.
Officials said commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has continued despite repeated attacks over recent months. “Commercial vessel transits through the vital international maritime corridor continue.” The command added that since early May, CENTCOM has helped facilitate the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels carrying about 450 million barrels of crude oil, underscoring why the waterway remains central to the current campaign.
The latest strikes followed several nights of similar US operations. Earlier attacks targeted surveillance sites, communications systems, weapons storage facilities, military networks, and Iran’s missile and drone infrastructure.
The US widens its military campaign in northern Iran by striking military sites outside the areas targeted in earlier operations. American forces also intercepted a vessel accused of attempting to breach the naval blockade.
Monday’s operation came after Trump responded to the deaths of three American service members. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said, “Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over!” He added, “This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military.”
US officials said Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, and First Lt. Tyler Feehan, 25, died in Jordan on consecutive days. A third service member was killed during a controlled detonation involving a downed Iranian drone, but their identity has not been released.
Those losses have pushed the total number of American service members killed since Operation Epic Fury began on Feb. 28 to 17, according to US officials. Qatar has reportedly proposed a 10-day ceasefire, while talks between Washington and Tehran have continued despite the conflict, and Trump claims he is in the final throes of a regional peace deal.
One US official described the administration’s position to Axios, “Right now, President Trump is focused on making Iran pay for their violations of the MOU and their continued acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz.” The official added, “In addition, the President will make Iran pay for the recent deaths of US soldiers.” They continued, “These devastating blows will continue until the President deems otherwise, but talks between our countries are continuing.”
(Featured Image: The White House, PDM 1.0)
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