Sunday morning, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which has operational control of American forces in the Middle East, released information on the United States' eighth consecutive night of operations against Iran, mostly aimed at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). One might describe this accurately as Iran getting its teeth kicked in.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 19, 2026
CENTCOM reports:
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed another round of strikes against Iran on July 18 at 11:30 p.m. ET, at the Commander in Chief's direction.
During the eighth consecutive night of U.S strikes, CENTCOM forces successfully hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities. American military assets also targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces that launched attacks against U.S. service members in Jordan on July 17.
More than 50,000 U.S. men and women in uniform are operating across the Middle East. They remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready.
The attacks are in part reprisal for the deaths of two U.S. service members in an Iranian missile and drone attack on an installation in Jordan. Several other service members were wounded in the attack.
Today at 6 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began launching new airstrikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction. The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 18, 2026
It's likely this eighth night of strikes won't be the last.
Read More: State Dept to Americans Abroad: Exercise Extreme Caution Due to 'Heightened Tensions in Middle East'
Report: President Trump Orders CENTCOM to 'Rain Hell' on IRGC After US Service Members Killed
Here's what's interesting about the pattern of U.S. strikes against Iran: In the southwestern part of the country, the United States has dropped several rail and road bridges that provide access to the port city of Bandar Abbas, which sits in a very interesting location indeed, right at the chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz. American forces have also attacked Iranian ports and shipping facilities in the region, as well as blockading Iranian shipping. What looks like the isolation of Bandar Abbas is interesting, as it would be a logical first step for American forces or (preferably) America's Persian Gulf allies to establish a beachhead in Iran.
Speaking to the New York Post on Saturday, President Trump reiterated that the primary goal of this ongoing operation was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
President Trump defended the war with Iran as the US launched retaliatory strikes on Tehran for the deaths of two American service members in a call with The Post on Saturday, saying the troops made the ultimate sacrifice to prevent the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon — and warned the region could descend into wider conflict if Tehran isn’t stopped.
Speaking about an hour into the latest US bombing campaign, Trump called the deaths “a shame” but argued the mission remains critical.
“They did it because they don’t want to see Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said of the troops. “… And it just shows you how bad [the Iranians] are.”
Here's the thing: If Iran's political leadership doesn't change, if the mullahs aren't defenestrated and some modern government put in place, the United States will be in the position of having to do this again, in 10, 20, or 40 years. That's the elephant in the room. That's the root cause of the problem Iran presents to the civilized world now. They can't be negotiated with, and they won't keep any bargains they make; that has been made abundantly clear in the last few days alone.
And, in the end, it's going to be up to the Iranian people to do something about it. But American air power can surely plow the road for them.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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