Two U.S. service members were killed and a third is missing after an Iranian missile strike on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, the U.S. military reported on July 18. Hours later, U.S. Central Command announced that it had launched attacks against Iranian targets intended to degrade threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and punish the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The strike marks the eighth consecutive day of U.S. bombing of Iranian sites since the collapse of a tentative ceasefire reached in April. The U.S. death toll from the conflict, which began on February 28, rose to 16, including the pilot declared missing after a helicopter crash in July and a soldier who died in a medical incident. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that the sacrifice “stiffens our resolve.” The U.S. attacks targeted surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage and maritime capabilities, according to Centcom. Iranian state media reported that strikes hit bridges and a desalination plant in Jask, leaving 10,000 people without water. Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said a power and desalination plant was struck, causing fires that damaged infrastructure. Bahrain’s Defense Force said it intercepted several Iranian drones and missiles, while Jordan’s Armed Forces reported intercepting four drones that entered its airspace. The escalation has slowed commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to higher oil prices and increasing economic strain on Gulf states that rely on desalinated water. Congressional Republicans have expressed concern that the conflict could affect voter sentiment ahead of the November elections, potentially influencing control of the House and Senate. The situation remains unresolved as Iran’s supreme leader accused the United States of violating the June memorandum that had limited hostilities, warning of “unforgettable lessons” for the United States.