TAMPA, FLORIDA July 18, 2026 – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it completed another round of strikes against Iranian military targets on the night of July 18 at 11:30 p.m. ET, marking the eighth consecutive night of operations directed by the Commander in Chief.
The strikes targeted Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites. CENTCOM stated the operations were intended “to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities.”
The latest strikes also specifically targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces responsible for launching attacks against U.S. service members in Jordan on July 17.
On July 17, Iranian ballistic missiles and drones struck a U.S. and partner forces base in Jordan. According to CENTCOM, two American service members were killed in action, one service member remains missing in action, and several others were wounded. Four service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and have since been discharged; others with minor injuries have returned to duty.
CENTCOM said the strikes were carried out “to swiftly punish” the IRGC forces involved in the Jordan attack while also continuing efforts to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM noted that more than 50,000 U.S. service members are currently operating across the Middle East. The command stated that these forces “remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready.”
The announcement comes amid an ongoing series of exchanges between U.S. and Iranian forces following the breakdown of a recent ceasefire. Earlier rounds of U.S. strikes have focused on Iranian assets threatening commercial shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway.
CENTCOM continues to monitor the situation closely and has not released additional operational details at this time.
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