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ConflictU.S. launches ninth straight day of airstrikes on Iran; IRGC reports two oil tanker explosions in Strait of Hormuz
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The United States conducted a new round of airstrikes targeting Iran early Monday, the ninth consecutive day of strikes, after announcing the death of another American service member in Iraq during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone. Iran fired missiles towards Jordan, risking widening the conflict into Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that two oil tankers exploded and were immobilized after attempting to transit an unsafe southern route through the Strait of Hormuz, alleging U.S. encouragement. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in the conflict and called on other countries to step up pressure to protect global shipping. The interim deal meant to end fighting has crumbled, and shipping traffic in the strait has largely stalled.
Source report
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that two oil tankers had exploded and been immobilised after attempting to transit what it described as an unsafe southern route through the Strait of Hormuz
Updated - July 20, 2026 08:49 am IST
By The Hindu Bureau
Smoke rises from an explosion at an unknown location during what U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says are strikes on Iran, in this still image taken from a handout video released on July 19, 2026. Photo: U.S. Central Command via Reuters.
The United States conducted a new round of airstrikes early Monday (July 20, 2026) targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member, and Iran fired missiles towards Jordan that risked widening the conflict into neighbouring Israel. This is the ninth consecutive day of the U.S. strikes on Iran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Monday that two oil tankers had exploded and been immobilised after attempting to transit what it described as an unsafe southern route through the Strait of Hormuz, alleging they had been encouraged by the U.S. military to use the passage.
Also read: Iran’s Supreme Leader says U.S. breaches show Trump’s signature is ‘worthless’
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday (July 19, 2026) that Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in the ongoing West Asia conflict, adding that other countries need to step up pressure to protect global shipping. “It’s clear that Iran, at least some people in Iran, want to control the straits and hold that as leverage against the world,” he said.
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July 20, 2026 08:49 — U.S. launches more airstrikes against Iran after announcing another death of service member
The United States conducted a new round of airstrikes early in the morning targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member, and Iran fired missiles towards Jordan that risked widening the conflict into neighbouring Israel.
Step by step, the U.S. and Iran have inched closer to all-out war as last month’s interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled.
The U.S. military said the service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during the “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone. — AP
Published - July 20, 2026 08:47 am IST
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