US launches new wave of strikes on Iran, CENTCOM announces UPDATED

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces carried out a new round of strikes on military targets in Iran on July 15, targeting coastal defence systems and missile infrastructure.

"U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed a morning round of strikes against Iran at 7:30 a.m. ET on July 15. CENTCOM launched precision munitions against coastal defence systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island during the 90-minute wave. The strikes further degraded Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," the statement said.

14:54

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the start of a new series of strikes against targets in Iran.

In a statement posted on X, it said the strikes were aimed at further weakening the military capabilities Iranian forces have employed against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Caliber.Az reports.

“At 6 a.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching a wave of strikes against Iran. The strikes are designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” it noted.

At 6 a.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching a wave of strikes against Iran. The strikes are designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 15, 2026

The 60-day ceasefire established under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in mid-June between the US and Iran had always appeared fragile. However, the latest strikes represent a significant escalation beyond the limited exchanges that characterised previous flare-ups.

Those earlier confrontations typically followed a familiar pattern: Iran targeted commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States responded with restrained retaliatory strikes, and Tehran then launched attacks against US partners in the Gulf, including Bahrain and Kuwait.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov