By Maria Paula Mijares Torres and Patrick Sykes
Jul 18, 2026 (Bloomberg) – The US carried out new strikes on Iran on Saturday, just a day after two American service members were killed in Jordan by missile and drone attacks from Iran.
According to US Central Command, these strikes aimed to weaken Iran’s capability to threaten commercial shipping and to swiftly retaliate against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces that attacked American troops in Jordan the night before.
The attacks on Friday also resulted in four soldiers being injured and one missing. The total number of US fatalities has now risen to 16 since the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran began on February 28.
On Saturday, Tehran announced it would no longer follow the terms of an interim peace deal after launching heavy assaults on Gulf nations like Kuwait and Jordan in response to the recent US strikes.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned the US to expect “unforgettable lessons.” He stated in a message released on Saturday that US breaches of the agreement—a 60-day ceasefire while negotiating terms for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran's nuclear program—showed how “worthless and invalid" American promises are.
Khamenei has not been seen in public since US strikes killed his father and other family members, leaving him seriously injured in the early days of the war.
The past week has seen both sides launching strikes beyond military targets, hitting bridges, utilities, and port facilities. This suggests that a return to the fragile ceasefire agreed upon last month is unlikely.
Iranian officials report that 50 people have died and over 500 have been injured due to US attacks since June 27.
Kuwait Airways has rescheduled several flights, while the Ministry of Electricity and Water is responding to a fire at a power and desalination plant that was hit by an Iranian strike.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks, stating that targeting crucial facilities “reveals a systematic aggressive approach that endangers civilian lives and safety,” which violates international law.
Iran has also attacked US radar and aircraft in Qatar, which is a key mediator between the US and Iran, according to the Tasnim news agency.
Earlier, Central Command reported that a series of US strikes on Friday targeted surveillance sites, military logistics facilities, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities.
The targeting of civilian infrastructure marks a troubling escalation by both sides, but the current conflicts are nowhere near the intensity seen in March and early April, when US forces and Israel were heavily bombing Iranian cities, and Tehran was launching numerous drones and missiles at Gulf Arab states and Israel.
The US State Department has advised Americans to reconsider travel to the Middle East due to the risk of “unforeseen escalation” and recommended checking with airlines for flight schedules for those who still plan to travel.
In his statement, Khamenei also called for unity between the Iranian public and its government, addressing growing criticism from hardliners about the decision to pursue diplomacy.
“Criticism of officials should not lead to injustice against the innocent or disrupt social unity,” he emphasized.
On Friday, Brent crude oil prices rose by about 4.6%, nearing $88 per barrel, marking the largest weekly gain since April. This increase came after a report indicated the Trump administration had informed Israel about sending more refueling aircraft, implying a possible expansion of US military operations. An Israeli military official confirmed plans for the US to enhance its aircraft fleet based in Israel.
In a televised address on Thursday night, US President Donald Trump again depicted the situation in the Middle East as a success, stating that the US is “winning big in Iran, and you will soon see the results,” before shifting his focus to domestic issues.
During the conflict's initial three weeks, 13 service members lost their lives in at least three different attacks. In early July, a Navy pilot died in a helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea.
China and Pakistan have expressed concern regarding the situation, urging both the US and Iran to halt hostilities and resume discussions.
In addition to increasing bombings of Iran, the US has reinstated a blockade on its ports and removed a waiver for sanctions on its oil exports.
As Iran continues its maritime assaults and insists that all ships seek permission before passing through the strait, the likelihood of further escalation from both sides remains high, according to Mehran Kamrava, a political science professor at Georgetown University’s campus in Qatar.
The ongoing attacks signal “more troubling events to come,” Kamrava stated in an interview on Bloomberg TV from Doha on Friday. “Neither side wants this escalation, but both have become locked into a cycle of retaliation that is dangerous, particularly when it involves critical infrastructure.”