The United States military has conducted airstrikes on various targets across Iran for the tenth consecutive day, as tensions between the two nations reach a boiling point. According to the Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, the airstrikes were ordered by President Donald Trump and aimed at diminishing Iran's military capabilities used to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

On July 20, CENTCOM announced that the airstrikes began at 4 PM ET (3 AM local time in Hanoi). Reports from Iranian media indicated that multiple explosions were heard in areas including Qeshm Island, Chahbahar, Konarak, Bandar Abbas, Sirik along the southern coast, and Isfahan in central Iran.

In response, the Iranian military announced on July 21 that it had launched a barrage of missiles targeting US HIMARS systems at the Arifjan base in Kuwait. This base, located south of Kuwait City, hosts various branches of the US military, including naval, air force, marine, and coast guard units.

This escalation marks the tenth day of conflict between the US and Iran, following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement on July 8. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the country is engaged in a "total war" with the US, emphasizing that Tehran must be realistic about the inevitable consequences of this conflict.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and head of the negotiation team, reiterated that military actions demonstrate Washington's lack of genuine interest in de-escalation with Tehran. He criticized the US for continuously sending military equipment to the region while claiming to seek an end to the conflict.

In mid-June, the US and Iran had signed a temporary ceasefire agreement, which allowed for three weeks of relative calm in the Gulf region. However, tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for energy exports that Iran is attempting to control, have reignited hostilities.

The US has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports and conducted airstrikes in retaliation for Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait. The Pentagon reported on July 20 that nearly 100 US service members have been injured since July 7, primarily from mild traumatic brain injuries. Recently, three more US service members were confirmed dead, bringing the total fatalities in the conflict with Iran to 17.

President Trump stated on social media, "Every time Iran kills an American soldier, they will pay a price many times greater for that action!" He confirmed that airstrikes would continue until he issues a different directive, while also asserting that negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain ongoing.

As the situation develops, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution to the escalating conflict.