US military launches new wave of attacks against Iran

The United States launched a new wave of strikes against Iran on Monday for the 10th consecutive night, as President Donald Trump vowed that Tehran would pay "many times over" for the killing of American soldiers and the regional confrontation continued to spread across the Middle East.

U.S. Central Command said the latest round of strikes began at 4 p.m. Eastern time. The targets were not immediately disclosed, but recent U.S. operations have focused on Iranian military capabilities, missile infrastructure and positions linked to attacks against U.S. forces.

Washington has also sought to weaken Iranian systems that could threaten more complex American operations or efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The attacks followed one of the deadliest periods for US forces since the war began in February. The number of US troops killed rose to 17 over the weekend, as remains found after an Iranian attack in Jordan were being examined to determine whether they belonged to another missing service member.

Two American soldiers were confirmed killed when Iranian ballistic missiles struck the Muwaffaq Salti air base in Jordan. In March, six American troops were killed when an Iranian drone struck a US military facility in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. About 430 American service members have been injured in the conflict.

"Every time Iran kills an American soldier, they will pay many times over for that killing," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He said the directive had been passed on to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, and every senior US military commander.

Trump did not explain what the order entailed, but the United States had already begun moving additional fighter jets and aerial refueling tankers to the region before the fatal attack in Jordan.

The White House said Trump would attend the dignified transfer to Dover Air Force Base for the fallen troops.

Jordan has emerged as one of the central battlegrounds in the widening confrontation. Its military intercepted three Iranian missiles on Monday evening after alerts were raised across the country, with no casualties or damage reported.

Today at 4 pm ET, US forces began a new round of strikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief's direction. The strikes are designed to further degrade Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

- US Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 20, 2026