U.S. Central Command said it completed a second wave [1] of airstrikes and missile and drone attacks against Iranian targets on Wednesday, July 12, 2026.
These operations signal a rapid escalation in military engagement between the two nations. The focus on key maritime corridors suggests an effort to maintain global oil flow and naval access amid growing volatility in the region.
The strikes occurred during the second night [2] of the conflict. According to U.S. Central Command, the military hit multiple [3] Iranian targets located near the Strait of Hormuz, specifically including Qeshm Island and the port of Bandar Abbas [4].
A spokesperson for U.S. Central Command said the operations were "additional self‑defence strikes" [5]. The command said the actions were intended to protect commercial shipping and deter further Iranian aggression [6].
In a separate statement, U.S. Central Command said, "We have completed the second wave of strikes against Iranian targets" [7].
Tehran has responded to the military pressure with its own strategic maneuvers. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said, "Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz until the end of U.S. interference" [8]. This claim contradicts the U.S. objective of keeping the waterway open for trade.
Political tensions have further intensified the conflict. President Donald Trump threatened new military action against those who continue to play the U.S. for suckers, including threats to "bomb the sh*t out of them" [9].
“"We have completed the second wave of strikes against Iranian targets"”
The targeting of Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island places the conflict at the heart of the world's most critical oil chokepoint. While the U.S. frames these actions as defensive measures to ensure the freedom of navigation, the IRGC's claim of closing the Strait of Hormuz suggests a strategy of economic warfare. This creates a high-risk environment where a single miscalculation could disrupt global energy markets.
