US strikes Iran for ninth night in a row amid tensions over the Strait of Hormuz

The US has carried out strikes on Iran for the ninth night in a row amid tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Explosions have been reported in various cities across the country. The country’s state media reported on Monday (July 20) local time that the attacks targeted several cities in northern and southern Iran, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Sirik and Jask. Explosions were reported in various areas including Tabriz, Chabahar, Sirik and Jask.
The US military said the latest attack was aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities, which are being used to attack commercial ships and sailors passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, another US soldier was reported to have been killed in the attack. This is the third US soldier’s death in recent days. At the same time, a ceasefire agreement between Tehran and Washington brokered a month ago by Pakistan has effectively collapsed.
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported several explosions in the port cities of Mahshahr and Imam Khomeini in southwestern Khuzestan province. Explosions were also reported near the cities of Sirik and Jask in Hormuzgan province and around the city of Hormuz in Bushehr province.
The IRIB also reported three explosions near the northwestern city of Tabriz. The semi-official Fars News Agency reported that air defense systems had been activated in the southeastern cities of Konarak and Chabahar.
Death toll in US military operation rises to 17
Earlier, CENTCOM said a US soldier was killed in an accident while controlling the destruction of unexploded parts of an Iranian drone shot down in northern Iraq on Saturday. In addition, unidentified human body parts were recovered from the site of the Iranian attack in Jordan on Friday. CENTCOM said tests were underway to confirm their identities.
The attack killed two US soldiers and left one missing. The latest deaths bring the total number of US service members killed since the start of the war to 17. More than 420 others were wounded. The conflict, which has been ongoing since the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, has killed thousands of people. Most of the dead are Iranian and Lebanese citizens. It has also caused major disruptions to energy supplies and raised concerns about global inflation.