The US Has Now Struck Iran for Nine Straight Nights — and Still Hasn’t Secured the Waterway It Says It’s Fighting to Protect

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U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau, pilot and commander of the F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team, performs an aerial demonstration at Air Dot Show Tour Fort Lauderdale, Florida, May 9, 2026. Capt. Le Tourneau showcased the unmatched capabilities of the F-22 by performing a series of combat maneuvers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mary Bowers)

How the Ninth Night of Iran Strikes Unfolded: The United States launched a ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran overnight into Monday, July 20, escalating a campaign that has yet to secure the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping. The strikes targeted Iranian military command centers, missile and drone launch sites, air defense systems, coastal surveillance systems, and maritime capabilities, according to U.S. Central Command.

Iran responded with fresh attacks against U.S. forces and Gulf states. Iranian forces also claimed strikes against U.S. aircraft in Jordan as well as additional strikes on critical infrastructure inside Kuwait and Bahrain. Reports also suggest that two commercial tankers were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz.

F-22 Raptor Flying in the Dark Clouds

F-22 Raptor Flying in the Dark Clouds. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau, pilot and commander of the F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team, performs an aerial demonstration during the 52nd Annual SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, April 18, 2026. Capt. Le Tourneau showcased the unmatched capabilities of the F-22 to the SUN ‘n FUN crowds by performing multiple series of combat maneuvers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mary Bowers)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau, pilot and commander of the F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team, performs an aerial demonstration during the 52nd Annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, April 18, 2026. Capt. Le Tourneau showcased the unmatched capabilities of the F-22 to the SUN ‘n FUN crowds by performing multiple series of combat maneuvers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mary Bowers)

It’s an expected escalation; it follows the deaths of three U.S. service members in two separate incidents, with two soldiers killed during an Iranian missile attack in Jordan on July 17, and another killed in northern Iraq on July 18 during the disposal of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone.

U.S. Targets Iranian Command and Launch Sites

In a statement, U.S. Central Command said that the latest operation concluded at 10 pm Eastern Time Sunday, equivalent to early Monday morning in Iran.

“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) successfully completed the ninth consecutive evening of strikes against Iran, July 19, at 10 p.m. ET,” the statement reads.

“CENTCOM assets targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks to further diminish Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” it continued.

CENTCOM also shared video footage showing service members conducting the strikes, with U.S. aircraft departing aircraft carriers. The statement also added that the aim of the strikes is to “hold Iran accountable.”

While CENTCOM did not specifically name the facilities or sites struck overnight, or indeed the aircraft or weapons involved, the target list was extensive. The statement described extensive strikes on Iranian coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, its maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage sites, and more.

Iran Reports Explosions and Launches Retaliatory Attacks

Iranian media reported explosions in several parts of the country, including around Tabriz in northwestern Iran and the southern coastal areas of Jask, Sirik, Chabahar, and Konarak. Explosions were also reported around Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini in Khuzestan Province. At least one person was also reportedly killed near Tabriz.

Iran responded by continuing its campaign against countries hosting or supporting U.S. forces. The IRGC claimed that ballistic missiles struck American military aircraft at King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, Jordan, including transport and command-and-control aircraft. However, neither the U.S. military nor Jordanian authorities immediately confirmed the claims. The U.S. Embassy did warn Americans on Sunday, however, to avoid Aqaba’s airport and seaport because of the security threat – but by Monday, the airport resumed operations.

Iran also launched further attacks against Kuwait, where power-generation, oil, and water-desalination infrastructure had already been struck over the weekend. Kuwait said Iranian attacks hit a power and desalination facility for a second consecutive day, causing a fire. Separately, Bahrain announced Iranian drones targeted the kingdom’s air-traffic systems.

Pentagon Identifies Soldiers Killed in Jordan

CENTCOM also confirmed that two American service members were killed on July 17 as U.S. and partner forces defended Jordan against Iranian drones and ballistic missile attacks.

“On July 17, two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Additionally, one service member is currently missing in action,” a July 18 public statement reads.

“Four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals. They have since been discharged. Other personnel who were evaluated for minor injuries have returned to duty,” it continues.

The Department of Defense identified the two soldiers as 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas. Both were killed following the Iranian attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, also known as Azraq Air Base.

Third American Killed in Northern Iraq

The third recent U.S. death occurred in a separate incident in northern Iraq on July 18. CENTCOM said that a service member was killed in action during a controlled detonation of unexploded Iranian ordnance. A second service member suffered a minor injury in the incident and is receiving medical treatment. CENTCOM did not release the deceased service member’s identity, unit, or branch of service – nor did it reveal the precise location of the incident.

Tonight

With no indication from either Washington or Tehran that military operations will slow, and with Iranian proxies now threatening to stop all Saudi Arabian crude exports, the chances of a tenth consecutive night are high.

About the Author: Jack Buckby 

Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, producing and editing analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at 19FortyFive and National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.

IN the summer of 2019, I was seated in the wine cellar of a walled Medieval town high above the Dordogne Valley of France, not far from Sarlat-la-Canéda, making phone calls, writing reports. I have given this story in other places and it appears as though you’re about to hear it again. Rob Skiba is a name you that you might be familiar with. Though he had made a name for himself as a Nephilim researcher, more recently Rob had taken a dive into the deep end of the pool via flat earth research. The recorded interviews I conducted between he and Rick Hummer, a fellow flat earth investigator and close friend of his, was published while still occupying that very wine cellar. Read all about it. Chicago Is Not a Mirage.

Word quickly spread. Within a few short weeks, dozens of flat earth researchers began accepting my invite for a private interview, if not a series of interviews. From a 17th-century tower built by King Louis XIV, and with a stunning view of the Alps, I sat down with Robbie Davidson, founder of the Flat Earth International Conferences, conducting multiple sessions. While staying in Dumfries, Scotland, David Weiss agreed to take part in the interviews, as did Bob Knodel of Globebusters. There were others. But when I asked the interviewees to discuss the moments that shaped their lives, among the many PSYOPs, false flag attacks, and hoaxes that were discussed, only these men committed commentary to the false 9/11 narrative.

The resulting recordings ballooned into The Unexpected Cosmology, a book which became a website and was even intended as an anthology. And of course, the following discourse was originally a chapter. It was Walt Disney who stated, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” Those sentiments remain applicable here as well. American Sensationalism: The 9/11 Interviews was always intended to be expanded upon with the inclusion of new researchers. So I’m sorry to say the project became stagnant during the Covid-19 psychodrama. I took a break to tackle other projects. We lost Rob Skiba. Rob offered hours of private conversation regarding his life but we never got around to the big one. 9/11. It was in the cards. Sadly, Bob Knodel died soon afterwards. Voices are being squeezed from an entire generation. Gnosis passes with them.

In the aftermath, the FE community became fractured. People began going their separate ways. Robbie Davidson, among a noted few others who were interviewed for the project, got up and left the movement altogether. It is not my intent to erase his or the contributions of others if only brief. They came, they went, their testimonies remain.

The original vision may have hit roadblocks but it is not forgotten. I expanded this paper a few years later to include testimony from author Pauly Hart, a dear friend of mine. I had wanted to continue that trend every year thereafter but you know how it goes. For the 25th anniversary of the attack I have redirected my efforts to its first large scale expansion, including Andrew Hoy and Darrin Geisinger into the mix. Perhaps others will lend their experiences to the recorder in time.

The following is their report.

Read the 9/11 Interviews

Watch the Interviews