President Donald Trump met with top military officials in the Situation Room on Tuesday to discuss a significant expansion of military operations against Iran. The intensified campaign is intended to cripple Iran's ability to attack shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The strategy session reportedly focused on new strikes targeting strategic locations within Iran and further operations in the Strait. This escalation follows four consecutive nights of airstrikes around the vital waterway, marking the 137th day of ongoing conflict.
US officials confirmed that the objective of the sustained bombardment is to dismantle Iran's capacity to threaten maritime traffic. The offensive has been further amplified by a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, which officially began Tuesday afternoon and aims to disrupt the country's maritime trade.
In response to the increased pressure, Iran has continued to launch missiles and suicide drones targeting American military bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The current U.S. airstrikes have primarily targeted Iran's air defense networks, radar systems, anti-ship missile batteries, and drone launch sites. Iran's army reported that seven personnel were killed in strikes on a military base in Bampur overnight.
President Trump stated in an interview with Fox News Channel that the U.S. plans to conduct at least two more days of strikes, continuing the campaign until he deems it sufficient. "We're going to hit them very hard tonight, very hard tomorrow night," Trump said, indicating a brutal campaign that will not cease until he gives the order. He also mentioned that energy targets would be addressed later in the campaign, with power plants and bridges potentially targeted next week unless Iran negotiates a peace deal that includes renouncing its nuclear ambitions. "You better make a deal, or you're not going to have anything left," Trump warned.
CENTCOM reported late Tuesday that another wave of strikes had been completed, hitting dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran's coast. The update stated that U.S. fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels utilized precision munitions against Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, and coastal defense systems. This seven-hour operation aimed to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews. U.S. forces have also resumed a naval blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports.
The latest U.S. military actions come after Trump notified Congress of the war's resumption, following Iran's alleged breach of a memorandum of understanding by targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump did not rule out the deployment of U.S. ground forces to achieve objectives, particularly concerning Iran's enriched uranium.
Among those present at the Tuesday meeting were Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine. The conflict is described as a series of tit-for-tat strikes, with the memorandum of understanding signed by both parties on June 17 now reportedly in tatters. Earlier Sunday, three drones struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility near the Strait of Hormuz, marking a notable instance of Washington deploying sea drones in combat operations. The ongoing exchange has seen significant damage to Iran's military infrastructure, as reported by Iranian state media.