US Launches Deep Iran Strikes as Tehran Eyes 18-Mile Bab al-Mandeb Squeeze
Updated
Updated · The Mirror · Jul 18
US Launches Deep Iran Strikes as Tehran Eyes 18-Mile Bab al-Mandeb Squeeze
3 articles · Updated · The Mirror · Jul 18
Summary
US forces hit targets deep inside Iran and around Tehran in what commanders called a “shaping operation,” the strongest strikes of the latest escalation and a shift from earlier “self-defence” missions.
The change in tempo came as reports said Iran was linking the Houthis with Somalia’s al-Shabab, transferring drones, arms and missiles to help threaten the Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint.
The 18-mile strait carries about 12% of global trade; if disrupted alongside Hormuz, Iran and its proxies could squeeze both of the region’s main maritime arteries.
Iran still signaled defiance, warning it would destroy regional infrastructure if the US targeted Iranian infrastructure, while analysts said the new US wording suggested preparation for a broader offensive.
Is Iran's demand to control the Strait of Hormuz a negotiating tactic or a new reality for global trade?
With Iran rebuilding its drone arsenal in months, can expensive Western air defenses win a long-term war of attrition?
With 70% of its population in poverty, can Iran's economy withstand a prolonged conflict against the United States?
July 2026 U.S.-Iran Naval Blockade: Enforcement Actions, Oil Price Surge, and Global Shipping Disruption
Overview
On July 15, 2026, U.S. Central Command forces disabled the oil tanker M/T Belma as a direct enforcement of the naval blockade against Iran, which began on July 13, 2026. This action followed a series of escalating events: Iran’s military targeted commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting U.S. attacks on Iran over the preceding weekend. The blockade and enforcement actions like the Belma incident reflect the U.S. government’s effort to hold Iran accountable for its attacks on shipping, continuing a pattern of U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets in recent weeks.