The United States launched military strikes Tuesday night against Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane in the Persian Gulf. The operation lasted seven hours and involved fighter jets, drones, and naval ships, according to CENTCOM, the US military command that oversees the region Al Jazeera.

Just before the strikes, the US imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports—essentially closing off access to shipping—which took effect Tuesday. CENTCOM says the blockade is meant to stop Iran from attacking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade also operates like a toll system: ships can pay to pass through safely Spectrum News. The US has about 21 warships stationed in the area to enforce this blockade Al Jazeera.

Iranian officials reported explosions in several coastal cities including Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, and Qeshm. News reports documented hits on a water bottling facility and military quarters. CENTCOM listed military facilities in six locations as targets CENTCOM.

This is not the first strike. Since early July, the US has been conducting multiple rounds of attacks, hitting over 80 targets on July 7, about 90 on July 7-8, and roughly 140 in later operations CENTCOM. The number of targets has grown significantly in just a week.

Iran fired back. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—Iran's elite military force—claimed it launched missile and drone attacks on US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, hitting the US Fifth Fleet headquarters and weapons storage areas Al Jazeera. These claims have not been confirmed by US officials. Jordan's military said it shot down three Iranian ballistic missiles that crossed into its airspace.

Why is this happening now? The US and Iran signed a ceasefire agreement just a few weeks ago, in April. But fighting originally started in late February when the US and Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities. That initial campaign included an operation called Midnight Hammer, which damaged three Iranian nuclear sites using massive bunker-buster bombs on the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant Defense.gov.

President Trump said the strikes will continue. He told Fox News the US is prepared to hit power plants and bridges, and eventually energy facilities. He also said the Strait of Hormuz will stay open. The US is demanding that Iran publicly promise to stop attacking ships in the strait before talks about reducing tensions AP News Reuters.

The pattern here matters. After agreeing to a ceasefire in April, both sides found themselves back to fighting within weeks. The number of targets in each round has grown quickly—from 80 to 140 in days. Trump's language about "saving energy targets for last" suggests the US is deliberately increasing pressure step by step rather than hitting everything at once. This leaves a major question: how much further will each side push before they try to negotiate again?