US launches fresh airstrikes on Iran as campaign enters seventh night

The US military launched a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran, saying the operations aim to weaken Iranian military capabilities. It also said US forces redirected, disabled and boarded vessels while enforcing a renewed naval blockade against Iran.The command said the strikes were aimed at further degrading Iran's military capabilities. The United States launched a fresh round of airstrikes against Iran at 3 PM. ET (12:30 AM IST) on Friday, marking the seventh consecutive night of military operations.In a tweet on X, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, "The strikes are designed to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities at the Commander in Chief's direction."US President Donald Trump, on Friday, had threatened to expand airstrikes against Iran's infrastructure and also did not rule out a ground assault on Iran's coast or islands, with US officials saying operations in southern Iran are intended to keep military options open.The United States is preparing to deploy dozens of additional aerial refuelling aircraft to Israel as Trump considers expanding military operations against Iran, Axios reported, citing US and Israeli officials. According to the report, Trump reviewed several military options during a Situation Room meeting earlier this week, including plans that could broaden the US campaign beyond current operations around the Strait of Hormuz. However, he has not yet made a final decision on whether to escalate the offensive.HOW IRAN PLANS TO RETALIATE?The escalation has raised concerns that Iran could retaliate by targeting critical infrastructure in neighbouring Arab states or using allied groups in Yemen to intensify attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting global energy supplies. Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, warned on Friday that Tehran would escalate its response if US attacks continued."If US strikes continue for several more days, we will move into a phase of full-scale offensive operations," Rezaei told Iranian state television.Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported late on Friday that the Revolutionary Guards' navy had targeted a Thai-flagged vessel attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, though it provided no further details.The reported incident comes as Washington and Tehran continue to test the limits of escalation following the collapse of their ceasefire agreement last week, raising fears of a return to a broader military conflict.- EndsPublished By: Ritaban MisraPublished On: Jul 18, 2026 01:38 IST