US launches second wave of strikes on Iran, targets Hormuz-linked military sites

The United States launched a second wave of airstrikes against Iran on Wednesday, July 15, according to multiple news agencies. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes began around 10:00 GMT and targeted Iranian military installations that the Pentagon says have been used to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters, France24, TASS, India Today and NDTV all reported on the new round of attacks, describing it as a continuation of an already escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran.

The strikes came just hours after an earlier, unusually daytime wave of attacks that France24 described as lasting roughly 90 minutes. At the same time, the US reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. According to France24, Iran responded by striking what it called “US military targets” in Gulf states and threatened to halt regional energy exports. Al Jazeera reported that the US strikes had killed dozens of people in Iran, while Iranian forces targeted regional bases in return, pushing what had been a fragile ceasefire closer to collapse.

The strategic purpose behind the strikes has been described in some detail by US officials speaking to reporters. According to a report jointly carried by Reuters, Al-Monitor and the Straits Times, three unnamed US officials said the strikes—while officially aimed at keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping—were also intended to destroy Iranian military capabilities that Washington would want eliminated before carrying out any more complex operations against Iran. This suggests the current campaign may also be seen internally as preparation for potentially broader military action, though the reporting stresses this reflects officials’ assessments rather than a confirmed plan.

President Donald Trump addressed the escalation publicly the same day. According to TASS and Anadolu, he said he was setting no fixed deadline for expanding the strikes but stated the Iranian leadership should be “better behaved.” The Guardian and France24 also reported that Trump had threatened to expand strikes next week to include civilian infrastructure such as power plants and bridges if Tehran does not agree to resume negotiations. The Guardian noted that such attacks on civilian infrastructure would likely violate international humanitarian law and could constitute war crimes. Reports differ somewhat on the details of Trump’s position regarding an earlier statement about the toll of blockading Hormuz, with France24 describing what it called a partial reversal by the president.

The day before the second wave of strikes, according to TASS, senior US officials reportedly met to discuss further escalation. Those said to have attended included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff. The reported subject of the meeting was the possibility of expanding strikes on Iran, though full official confirmation of what was discussed is not available across all sources.

The Independent framed the current situation as a moment in which Washington is weighing several strategic paths forward, ranging from a major military escalation to a return to diplomatic talks. The outlet noted that the strikes carried out so far around the Strait of Hormuz had not meaningfully weakened Iran, while no visible progress had been made toward a diplomatic resolution of the broader conflict.

Al Jazeera also published a mapping of the latest US strikes across various sites in Iran, illustrating the geographic spread and number of locations affected. Reports do not provide a consistent, verified figure for the exact number of targets hit, weapons used, or casualties on either side; several outlets refer broadly to “dozens” killed in Iran without citing an official tally.

What happens next remains uncertain. If Iran follows through on its threat to curtail regional energy exports, the impact could extend well beyond the immediate conflict zone, affecting global oil and gas markets. It is also unclear whether the US will carry out the threatened strikes on civilian infrastructure if no new negotiations take place by the following week. International observers are watching closely, given that further escalation could threaten the security of shipping lanes through the Persian Gulf and broader regional stability.