The United States launched another wave of military strikes against Iran late Tuesday night, hours after President Donald Trump warned that the campaign would intensify unless Tehran returned to the negotiating table.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation targeted dozens of military sites near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran’s coastline during a seven-hour series of coordinated attacks.
In a statement, CENTCOM said U.S. fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels struck Iranian missile and drone facilities, naval assets, and coastal defense systems using precision-guided munitions.
The military said the objective was to further reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian vessels operating in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
.@POTUS on Iran: “We’re going to hit them very hard tonight. We’re going to hit them very hard tomorrow night. We’re going to hit them very hard the night after… We’re going to knock out all their power plants, we’re going to knock out all their bridges, unless they get to the… pic.twitter.com/kPhMQKHqe9
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 14, 2026
CENTCOM also noted that the strikes coincided with the resumption of a U.S. naval blockade affecting vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas.
“U.S. forces remain vigilant, lethal, and prepared to execute operations directed by the Commander in Chief,” the command stated, releasing unclassified video footage of the strikes.
The announcement came shortly after Trump appeared on Fox News, where he indicated that military operations were about to expand significantly.
“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight,” Trump said during the interview.
He then suggested the campaign would continue over multiple days.
“They’re going to expand,” Trump said of the strikes. “We’re going to hit them very hard tonight. We’re going to hit them very hard tomorrow night. We’re going to hit them very hard the night after.”
The president also outlined what he described as the next phase of the operation if Iran refuses to negotiate.
“Next week comes the power plants, next week comes the bridges. We’re gonna knock out all their power plants, we’re gonna knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.”
Trump was also asked whether he was ruling out a limited ground operation.
“I can’t say that to you, because if I did it’d be foolish, right?” he responded.
Asked directly whether a ground campaign remained a possibility, Trump answered, “No, if it’s appropriate.”
FOX NEWS: Do you still intend to take Kharg island?
TRUMP: So I can’t say that to you because if I did it’d be foolish. But it’d be nice, it’d make a little headlines.
FOX NEWS: Are you ruling out a ground campaign?
TRUMP: I’d say no, if it’s appropriate. Sometimes you need a… pic.twitter.com/lnuflPeFjs
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 14, 2026
“Sometimes you need a ground campaign, but we have other people that will do the ground campaign for us,” he added.
The president also referenced Kharg Island, home to much of Iran’s oil export infrastructure. Trump said U.S. forces had already struck the island multiple times but emphasized that he had sought to avoid destroying Iran’s petroleum facilities.
“I said, hit everything but the oil. Just leave that little area,” Trump said.
Beyond the air campaign, the United States is also increasing pressure at sea.
According to The Hill, the U.S. resumed its naval blockade after a previous blockade ended on June 18. The report said more than 20 warships and hundreds of military aircraft have been positioned throughout the region to support enforcement operations.
