The United States launched a fresh wave of airstrikes against Iranian missile sites and defense systems on Wednesday, as President Trump warned the conflict could escalate further with power plants targeted next. Hours earlier, Trump abruptly reversed a 24-hour-old plan to charge a 20% toll on cargo ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, instead reinstating a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Analysts warned the four-month-old conflict risks becoming a 'forever war' as Iran threatened to halt all Middle East energy exports.
The United States launched a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian military targets on Monday, hours after President Donald Trump announced the US is 'reinstating' a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and will charge a 20% toll on all cargo shipped through the strategic waterway. The US military said the strikes would continue 'imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces' after Iran attacked commercial tankers. CENTCOM reported hitting more than 80 targets including anti-ship missile sites, radar networks, and IRGC fast attack craft. The escalation marks the end of a fragile ceasefire and risks further destabilizing global energy markets.
The United States launched a second night of strikes on Iranian targets after President Trump declared the ceasefire 'over,' following Iranian attacks on commercial oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Ship traffic through the strait has dropped to just 14 vessels per day, down from a normal 130, as Brent crude jumped to $78 a barrel. Iran's foreign minister plans to travel to Oman for talks, while Trump threatened to 'completely decimate and destroy all areas' of Iran if its leadership targets him.
The United States and Iran exchanged new airstrikes across the Persian Gulf on Monday after President Trump declared the interim agreement 'over.' CENTCOM said it struck more than 80 Iranian targets while Tehran fired back at three Gulf Arab states. The escalation comes days after Trump said the ceasefire was finished, raising fears of a broader regional war. NATO allies distanced themselves from the U.S. strikes as oil prices surged.
President Donald Trump declared the interim agreement with Iran 'over' after the US launched new strikes hitting more than 80 Iranian targets. Iran retaliated by firing at US positions in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan. The escalation marks the collapse of the temporary ceasefire that had been in place since earlier this year. CENTCOM confirmed Tuesday's strikes targeted Iranian military infrastructure, with satellite imagery showing damage to an Iranian port along the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States launched new airstrikes on more than 80 Iranian targets on Tuesday, and Iran retaliated by firing at three Gulf Arab states, escalating the conflict after President Trump declared the interim agreement 'over.' Oil prices surged to three-week highs as fears of a full-scale return to war gripped global markets. The exchanges mark the most intense fighting between the two nations since the ceasefire was signed, raising questions about diplomatic off-ramps.
The United States launched a second consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets on Wednesday after President Donald Trump declared the June ceasefire agreement with Iran to be 'over.' Explosions were reported in southern port cities including Bandar Abbas and Sirik near the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation began after Iran attacked three commercial tankers, prompting US retaliatory strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets. Trump said further talks with Iran would be 'a waste of time' even as his negotiators were permitted to continue discussions. Iran responded by targeting US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain. The 60-day ceasefire signed on June 17 now appears collapsed, with the two sides locked in the worst exchange of fire since the war began in February.
The United States carried out fresh military strikes on Iran on July 8, 2026, after President Trump declared the temporary ceasefire over, accusing Tehran of violating its terms. The strikes targeted Iranian military installations and sent crude oil prices soaring above $95 per barrel as Iran retaliated by attacking tankers near the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation threatens global energy supplies and has drawn urgent calls for de-escalation from European and Asian allies.
Explosive devices detonated near a hotel in Damascus where French President Emmanuel Macron was scheduled to appear, as world leaders prepare for a NATO summit dominated by Trump's demands for Europe to increase defense spending. The attack underscores the volatile security situation in the Middle East as diplomatic tensions rise.
Russia hammered Ukraine with missiles and drones early Monday, killing at least 20 people and exposing Kyiv's critical shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors. Ukraine failed to shoot down any of the 23 ballistic missiles fired, as its air defense stocks run dry ahead of a NATO summit in Turkey where President Trump is due to meet President Zelenskyy for peace talks.