President Donald Trump followed through on his promise to strike Iran again, with the US launching a new round of attacks on the country on July 8, 2026. The latest strikes targeted Iran’s south, including the port cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas, which are located on the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Trump stated that the strikes were in response to Iran’s bombing of ships in the Strait of Hormuz the previous day. Iranian state media reported explosions in several parts of the country, including Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Konarak, and Chabahar.
Gulf nations reported being targeted by Iranian attacks, with Bahrain’s capital Manama experiencing explosions, Kuwait intercepting missiles and drones, and Qatar issuing a security alert. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed that it had launched retaliatory strikes on US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned the US that it would face consequences for its actions, stating that the Strait of Hormuz would only be open under Iranian arrangements.
US Central Command stated that the strikes were aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping and civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz. The command reported that 90 Iranian military targets were struck, including air defense systems and military logistics infrastructure. The extent of the damage from the US strikes is not yet known, but Iranian media reported power cuts and a fire at an IRGC barracks.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: BBC World