The United States carried out airstrikes against Iranian infrastructure, including bridges, an airport, coastal radar, and air-defence sites [1, 5].
These operations mark a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, threatening the stability of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane.
U.S. officials said the strikes were retaliation for a drone attack on a Panama-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz [1, 2]. The U.S. also said the actions were intended to enforce a cease-fire that Iran had violated [1, 2].
Reports on the frequency of the attacks vary. CBS News reported that the U.S. finished seven [2] consecutive nights of strikes [3]. However, CNN reported that the U.S. launched strikes for a second [3] night on July 12, 2026 [3].
The strikes primarily targeted the coastal region near the Strait of Hormuz and areas around Bandar Abbas [3, 5]. In a previous wave of attacks occurring on June 29 and 30, 2026, the U.S. hit 10 [5] targets [5].
Iranian authorities condemned the attacks and warned of reprisals. The U.S. operations focused on degrading Iranian capabilities to disrupt maritime traffic and defend its airspace [1, 5].
“The United States carried out airstrikes against Iranian infrastructure, including bridges, an airport, coastal radar, and air-defence sites.”
The targeting of coastal radar and air-defence sites near Bandar Abbas suggests a U.S. strategy to neutralize Iran's surveillance and response capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz. By striking infrastructure essential for maritime control, the U.S. is signaling a low tolerance for interference with commercial shipping, while the conflicting reports on the duration of the strikes indicate a fluid and rapidly evolving military engagement.
