U.S. Retaliates After Deadly Strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base
WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – United States military forces have concluded an eighth consecutive night of intensive airstrikes against targets in Iran, following a fatal missile and drone attack on a Jordanian military base that killed at least two U.S. service members. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the strikes were authorized by President Trump specifically to degrade the capabilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington holds responsible for the escalation.
The trigger for the latest round of American kinetic action was a Friday attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. According to Pentagon officials, the strike resulted in the 15th and 16th U.S. fatalities of the current conflict. Beyond the two confirmed dead, one service member remains missing in action, and four others were medically evacuated to hospitals in Jordan for treatment. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled a hardening of the U.S. posture, stating that the sacrifice of American personnel would only “stiffen our resolve.”
Strategic Degradation and the Strait of Hormuz
The eighth night of strikes, which concluded around 11:30 p.m. ET Saturday, targeted a broad spectrum of Iranian military infrastructure. CENTCOM reported successful hits on coastal surveillance facilities, air defense systems, maritime assets, and storage sites for missiles and drones. A primary objective of these operations is to restore security to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy artery that has been effectively shut down by Iranian activity and retaliatory strikes.
The U.S. military is attempting to systematically dismantle the IRGC’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and regional allies. However, the mission faces significant challenges as Iran continues to utilize its asymmetric capabilities. In response to the American campaign, the State Department has issued a global travel advisory, urging Americans to exercise “increased caution” and warning that Iranian-aligned groups may target U.S. interests worldwide, including diplomatic facilities outside the Middle East.
The Collapse of Diplomacy: MOU Declared Dead
The military escalation follows the total collapse of a month-old Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Washington and Tehran. Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a statement read on state television, dismissed President Trump’s signature as “utterly worthless and devoid of credibility.” Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since a strike on the first day of the war that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, warned of “unforgettable lessons” for the United States.
Tehran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, officially announced the suspension of Iran’s commitments under the interim peace deal, though President Trump had already declared the agreement “dead” the previous week. Iranian officials have accused the U.S. of interpreting the MOU arbitrarily to gain control over the Strait of Hormuz, a claim Washington rejects as a pretext for Iranian aggression. Pakistan, which served as a key mediator in the negotiations, continues to engage with regional partners to contain the crisis, though diplomatic avenues appear increasingly narrow.
Regional Contagion and the GCC Response
The conflict has rapidly spilled over into neighboring states. Kuwait has become a frequent target of Iranian retaliation, with strikes hitting a critical water desalination plant and oil facilities. Kuwaiti officials reported that the nation, which depends on desalination for 90% of its drinking water, faced a “systematic hostile approach” targeting civilian infrastructure. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, condemned the Iranian attacks as “war crimes” and called for international accountability.
Simultaneously, the northern front remains volatile. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported striking a Hezbollah drone unit in southern Lebanon, despite a nominal ceasefire. Hezbollah has reportedly utilized fiber-optic cables to prevent drone jamming, complicating Israeli defense efforts. Against this backdrop, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is scheduled to arrive at the White House on July 21 for a summit with President Trump to discuss ways to consolidate a ceasefire and restore Lebanese state authority in the south.
Humanitarian and Economic Stakes
The human cost of the escalation is mounting. Iran’s health ministry reports that U.S. strikes between June 27 and July 18 have killed at least 50 people and injured over 500, including women and children. In the broader regional context, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the targeting of desalination plants in Kuwait represent a significant threat to both global energy markets and regional basic services. As the U.S. prepares for further operations and diplomatic consultations with Lebanese and Gulf leaders, the prospect of a wider regional conflagration remains at its highest point since the conflict began.