US strikes Iran July 15, Iran hits Gulf bases

The United States conducted two major waves of military strikes against Iran on July 15, 2026, targeting coastal defenses and missile infrastructure in a continued effort to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The attacks prompted retaliatory Iranian strikes on U.S. military facilities in allied Gulf states and escalated rhetoric describing the conflict as an existential war.

U.S. Central Command stated the first wave of strikes began at 6 a.m. Eastern Time, focusing on coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island in the strait. The operation lasted approximately 90 minutes. A second wave of U.S. strikes was launched later in the day, with Central Command announcing the conclusion of operations at 9 p.m. ET. The military actions followed seven hours of U.S. strikes on July 14 and marked at least the fourth consecutive day of bombardment. The U.S. also reinstated a naval blockade on vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports, which took effect on July 14.

In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it had struck U.S. military targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Regional authorities confirmed the attacks....