Iran Launches Regional Strikes After Seven-Day U.S. Campaign

The United States Central Command concluded a seven-night campaign of airstrikes against Iran on July 17, 2026, targeting surveillance sites, military logistics, and underground weapons storage. The strikes caused reported deaths and injuries in Hormozgan province and disrupted water supplies for 10,000 people in Jask. The U.S. also enforced a naval blockade against Iranian ports.

In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched Operation Nasr 2, a series of retaliatory missile and drone strikes on July 17 and 18. These attacks targeted U.S. military assets and civilian infrastructure across Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. In Kuwait, strikes hit power and water desalination plants, oil facilities, and U.S. bases including Camp Arifjan and Ali Al-Salem. The aggression forced Kuwait to close its national airspace and suspend all Kuwait Airways flights. In Jordan, missiles targeted the Al Azraq and Muwaffaq Salti bases, while strikes in Bahrain hit the Sheikh Isa Air Base and a Batelco data center.

Iran also targeted the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, killing nine members of the Komala Party opposition group. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi vowed to defend every inch of Iranian territory, while Mohsen Rezaee warned of full-scale offensive operations if U.S. attacks continued. Despite a June memorandum of understanding mediated by Pakistan to seek peace, the escalation has led to a U.S. State Department travel warning for the Middle East and a rise in Brent crude prices.