On 8 July 2026, the United States launched a new wave of strikes on Iran, followed overnight into 9 July by a larger round hitting approximately 90 targets along Iran’s coastline, including air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure. Explosions were reported in the port cities of Bandar Abbas, Konarak, and Chabahar, part of which lost electricity, as well as in Bushehr province.
For the first time since the April ceasefire, the US also struck infrastructure deep within Iran, hitting railway bridges on the Tehran-Mashhad line and the Aq Taqeh Khan railway bridge in Golestan province — part of the land trade corridor linking Iran with China and Russia that had gained importance during the US blockade of Iran’s ports.
Iran responded on 8–9 July with missile and drone strikes on US military targets in Bahrain and Kuwait. Jordan intercepted eight missiles fired from Iran.
The cause of the recurring exchanges of fire remains the Iranian regime’s objective to maintain its ability to restrict maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz at will, and the US objective to prevent Tehran from doing so.
Efforts Categories: US Military Force against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz (2026); Iran’s Military Force against the US and others in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz (2026); Iran’s Military Force against the US in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, and against these states
Modern Great Game Watch 