US and Iran trade fire for tenth night as tanker hit in Strait of Hormuz, crew abandons ship
US Central Command says it targeted Iranian command centers and missile sites, while Iran struck US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. A tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile northeast of Oman, its crew taking to a lifeboat.
Tenth night of strikes
For the tenth consecutive night since the ceasefire was declared dead, US and Iranian forces exchanged fire across the Persian Gulf region. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it struck Iranian command centers, missile launch sites, air defense systems, and maritime targets, aiming to degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported explosions near Abdanan in southwestern Iran, where the provincial governor said there were no casualties; the extent of damage was not disclosed. Deeper inland, Iranian outlets also reported strikes near Tabriz, site of an underground missile base, and Bushehr, location of Iran's only operating civilian nuclear reactor.
Iran retaliated by targeting US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, according to state news agency IRNA. In Kuwait, radar installations, satellites, and missile systems on a US military base were reportedly hit. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed to have stopped two more tankers, though details were not provided.
Tanker hit and crew evacuated
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency received a report of a tanker struck by an unidentified projectile and on fire. The vessel was about 15 kilometers northeast of Limah, Oman. The crew abandoned ship and took to a lifeboat, UKMTO said, adding that it is investigating the incident. A day earlier, another ship caught fire in the same area; UKMTO suspects an attack but has not determined the cause.
The transit of commercial vessels through the vital international maritime corridor continues unabated. Since early May, CENTCOM forces have facilitated the passage of approximately 900 commercial ships and 450 million barrels of crude oil.
Ceasefire collapse
Last month, Iran and the US signed a declaration of intent for an immediate ceasefire and restoration of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with negotiations on a peace agreement to follow within 60 days. The truce never took hold. Iran suspended the declaration on Saturday, July 18, while President Trump had already done so earlier this month at the NATO summit in Ankara. The US says it wants to resume talks, but for now both sides answer attacks with more attacks.
Strait of Hormuz: open or closed?
CENTCOM insists the strait remains open, citing the 900 ships and 450 million barrels it says have passed since early May. But NOS reports that Iran has been blocking shipping almost completely since the war began in February, and the US is blocking vessels from reaching Iranian ports to prevent oil exports. Normally, about a fifth of global oil trade passes through the strait.
- War between the US and Iran begins, Iran blocks Strait of Hormuz shipping
- US and Iran sign intent declaration for immediate ceasefire and Hormuz transit restoration
- President Trump suspends the declaration at the NATO summit in Ankara
- Iran suspends the ceasefire declaration
- Tenth consecutive night of US-Iran strikes; tanker hit near Limah, Oman
What's next
The US has stated it wants to talk again, but no new diplomatic initiative has been announced. With both sides continuing nightly strikes and the tanker incident underscoring the risks to commercial shipping, the prospect of a near-term ceasefire appears dim.
