The United States completed its eighth consecutive night of military strikes against Iran, with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirming operations ended on July 18 at 11:30 p.m. ET under the Commander in Chief’s direction. The latest strikes targeted Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites.
CENTCOM said American forces also struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) units that launched attacks against U.S. service members in Jordan on July 17. More than 50,000 U.S. troops remain deployed across the Middle East and, according to CENTCOM, continue to operate at a high state of readiness.
The new wave of strikes began at 6 p.m. ET on July 18. U.S. officials said the operation was intended to further reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and respond to the IRGC attacks on American personnel in Jordan.
CENTCOM also said the USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), supported by an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, continues enforcing the ongoing naval blockade against Iran in the Arabian Sea. As of July 18, the command said it had redirected five commercial vessels and disabled one vessel.
The U.S. military confirmed that two American service members were killed in Jordan on July 17 while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. One service member remains missing. Four personnel were medically evacuated to hospitals in Jordan and have since been discharged, while others treated for minor injuries have returned to duty. CENTCOM said it will release the identities of the fallen after their families are notified.
Iran’s military public relations office said it carried out the 16th phase of its “Lightning Operation,” claiming drone strikes hit a U.S. munitions depot at Adailiy camp and Patriot and other air-defense radar systems at Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait. The statement described Adailiy as a key U.S. support hub located about 104 km from Iran’s border.
Iranian state media also reported that Hatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters commander Ali Abdollahi warned Iran would deliver a “destructive retaliation” against any future U.S. military action. Separately, an Iranian analyst said Kuwait should remove U.S. troops from its territory if it does not want to become a target.
The U.S. State Department issued a global security alert on July 18, urging U.S. citizens worldwide, especially those in the Middle East, to increase vigilance because of heightened regional tensions. The alert warned of possible flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures, and potential attacks by Iran-aligned groups against U.S. interests, diplomatic facilities, and citizens globally.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein discussed regional developments following the U.S. military strike, Washington’s alleged violations of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, and Iran’s response, according to the Iranian government. Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri-Moghaddam, also accused the United States of violating the memorandum before the 60-day post-signing period had ended.
NewsNation reported that President Donald Trump reiterated Iran “cannot and should not” possess nuclear weapons. After Iran announced it would suspend compliance with commitments under an interim agreement, Trump said he “completely doesn’t care.”
Air & Space Forces Magazine and The Wall Street Journal, citing sources on July 17, reported that the Pentagon is accelerating deployments of F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to the Middle East. The aircraft include F-16s from the USAF 480th Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany and F-35s from the USAF 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom, along with multiple aerial refuelling tankers.
US Military Death Toll in Iran Conflict Rises to 16
The number of US military personnel killed since the start of the US–Iran conflict has risen to 16, with more than 430 troops wounded and one service member still missing. The latest fatalities came from a US base in Jordan, adding to the growing toll.
Key incidents include an Iranian drone strike on a civilian port in Kuwait on March 1, which killed six US service members, while another soldier injured that day at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia later died from injuries. On March 12, a KC-135 tanker crashed in Iraq, killing six personnel; US officials said there was no evidence of enemy or friendly fire. On July 1, a US Navy pilot died in a helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea, with the Navy stating the crash was not caused by enemy action.
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