U.S. Central Command released video showing military strikes on multiple Iranian targets, including bridges, and a submarine maintenance facility [1].

These operations signal a significant escalation in maritime warfare, introducing new autonomous technology to the theater while targeting critical infrastructure used to control the Strait of Hormuz.

The released footage details strikes on bridges around the port city of Bandar Abbas [2]. According to reports, the U.S. conducted airstrikes on these bridges for a sixth straight night [3]. The campaign also targeted a ship-maintenance facility and a submarine base [1].

CENTCOM said that these operations included the first combat use of U.S. sea drones [4]. These unmanned vessels were deployed to attack Iranian port infrastructure as part of the broader military effort [4].

The strikes followed an incident in which three merchant vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz [5]. The U.S. military said the actions were intended to pressure Iran's control of the strait during a fragile cease-fire [1, 5].

Further operations continued into July. Follow-up strikes on Iranian military sites and port facilities were launched on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 [5]. This sequence of events preceded the implementation of a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports on July 14, 2026 [6].

The U.S. military used a combination of aerial assets and sea-based drones to degrade the operational capacity of the Bandar Abbas port [2, 4]. The focus on bridges and maintenance facilities suggests a strategy aimed at limiting the mobility of the Iranian navy and its ability to sustain fleet operations [1, 2].

“The U.S. conducted airstrikes on these bridges for a sixth straight night.”

The deployment of sea drones in a combat environment marks a pivotal shift in naval doctrine, moving toward autonomous attrition of coastal defenses. By targeting the infrastructure of Bandar Abbas and implementing a naval blockade, the U.S. is attempting to physically sever Iran's ability to project power in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil chokepoint.