US-Iran Conflict Escalation: Key Developments as of July 15, 2026

US Strikes on Greater Tunb Island

On July 15, 2026, US Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted a new wave of strikes targeting Greater Tunb Island, a disputed Iranian-held island in the Strait of Hormuz. The 90-minute operation used precision munitions against Iranian coastal defense systems and cruise missile launch sites . This was the fifth consecutive day of US military action against Iran. Earlier rounds on July 7–8 hit over 80–90 Iranian military targets, including air defense systems, missile sites, and naval facilities . The US says the campaign aims to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping after Iran attacked three commercial vessels transiting the strait .

Iran's Retaliation: Operation Nasr 2

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it launched "Operation Nasr 2" in multiple waves in retaliation for US airstrikes . The operation targeted US military assets across the region:

• Bahrain and Kuwait: The IRGC said it struck US arms depots and barracks in Bahrain, and other military sites in Kuwait, early in the operation .
• Jordan: Iranian forces also targeted US facilities in Jordan and claimed to have destroyed radar systems in Oman .
• Qatar: Satellite imagery confirmed damage to a US aircraft maintenance facility at al-Udeid airbase from Iranian missile strikes .
• Damage assessment: An analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated Iranian strikes on US-aligned bases caused roughly $800 million in damage during the first two weeks of the broader conflict .

Note: Many specific target locations and damage reports come from IRGC statements via Iranian state media and are difficult to independently verify .

IRGC Closure of the Strait of Hormuz

The IRGC announced the Strait of Hormuz was closed "until further notice" on July 11, 2026, declaring it would remain shut until the US ends its intervention in the region . The IRGC Navy fired warning shots at commercial vessels and has since vowed to close "all other export routes that benefit the US and its allies" . This closure reimposes a blockade that was previously in effect in late March 2026 and again in June 2026 after a 60-day ceasefire collapsed . The strait is a critical chokepoint for about 20% of global oil shipments .

Trump's Threat to Target Power Plants and Bridges

President Donald Trump on July 15, 2026, threatened to expand US strikes to Iran's civilian infrastructure — specifically power plants and bridges — unless Tehran returns to negotiations . Trump said: "Next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges. We're going to knock out all their power plants. We're going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate" . This threat echoes earlier ultimatums from April 2026, when Trump warned he would "destroy Iran's power plants, bridges and other civilian infrastructure" if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened, leading Iran to call off indirect talks . On July 6, Trump reiterated the US would either reach a deal or "finish the job" .

Key Caveats

The operational name "Operation Nasr 2" is confirmed by regional media citing IRGC statements, but some specifics of target locations and damage remain claims by Iranian sources that are difficult to independently verify . The Strait of Hormuz was closed multiple times across 2026 (late March, June 20, and again July 11); the July 15 situation reflects the latest reaffirmation of that closure . Civilian casualties have been reported: Al Jazeera cited an Iranian official saying more than 30 civilians were killed and 260 wounded in US attacks on southern Iran over the preceding days . These figures are from Iranian authorities and have not been independently confirmed.