The United States launched a new round of airstrikes against Iran on July 18, escalating an already widening military campaign across the Middle East after two American service members were killed in a recent attack in Jordan. In a July 18 post on X, U.S. Central Command said American forces began conducting strikes at 6 p.m. ET "at the Commander in Chief's direction." The military said the operation is intended to further weaken Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and "swiftly punish" Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces that launched attacks against U.S. service members ... (full story)