The United States carried out airstrikes against Iranian military targets on the night of July 17-18, marking a series of nightly bombardments.
This escalation threatens to destabilize the Persian Gulf and surrounding regions, as Iran has shifted its retaliation toward third-party nations and strategic regional hubs.
Reports on the duration of the campaign vary, with some sources stating this was the sixth [2] and others the seventh [1] consecutive night of U.S. strikes. A spokesperson for U.S. Central Command said, "Los atacaremos con fuerza esta noche" [3].
These operations follow a conflict that began on Feb. 28, 2026 [1], which has resulted in thousands of deaths [1]. The U.S. presented the strikes as retaliation for an attack on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz [4]. In previous phases of the escalation, U.S. forces targeted 10 Iranian military sites [5].
Iran has responded by expanding the theater of conflict. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said, "Hemos ejecutado una operación conjunta entre nuestras fuerzas navales y aeroespaciales, utilizando misiles y drones" [5]. These retaliatory strikes targeted locations in Kuwait and Bahrain [5]. Some reports also indicate that Jordan was targeted in these attacks [6].
The cycle of violence has intensified since the initial February clashes. The use of drones and missiles by the IRGC highlights a strategy of regional disruption to pressure the U.S. into halting its aerial campaign, a tactic that has historically increased the risk of a wider maritime war in the Strait of Hormuz.
“"Los atacaremos con fuerza esta noche"”
The shift in Iranian retaliation toward Kuwait and Bahrain suggests a strategy to internationalize the conflict, potentially forcing regional allies of the U.S. to either distance themselves from Washington or increase their own military posture. By targeting multiple nations rather than striking the U.S. directly, Iran creates a broader security crisis that complicates U.S. efforts to maintain stability in the Strait of Hormuz.
