22/07/2026 03:47 - Internacionales
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces executed a new series of bombings against Iranian military regime targets on July 21, 2026. The offensive continued for the 11th consecutive night and is part of the military campaign initiated after the resumption of hostilities between Washington and Tehran.
In a statement, CENTCOM reported that operations began at 7:00 p.m. ET. The attacks aim to weaken Iran's military capacity to jeopardize commercial navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important maritime routes for global oil transportation. Various Iranian media reported explosions in key regions such as Tabriz (northwest), Sirik (south), and the activation of air defenses in Tehran.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate to defend the strategy and requested almost an additional $70 billion. The cost of the conflict has already risen to $37.5 billion, up from the $29 billion estimated in early May.
The Pentagon confirmed the death of three U.S. military personnel recently, bringing the number of fallen troops to 17 since the campaign began on February 28, 2026. Additionally, nearly a hundred soldiers were injured in recent weeks.
Since the ceasefire was lifted on July 8, Iran has intensified its responses, launching missiles and drones at U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The Persian government claimed to have attacked critical infrastructure, including power plants, desalination plants in Kuwait, and a major Amazon data center in Bahrain.
Tension is also expanding toward the Red Sea. Following a Saudi bombing of the Sanaa airport, the Houthi rebels in Yemen announced a maritime blockade against Saudi ports. This week, two Saudi oil tankers had to turn back in the Red Sea due to Yemeni threats, threatening to open a new war front and further drive up commodity prices.
The instability in the Strait of Hormuz has had a strong impact on energy markets. The price of Brent crude oil surpassed $92 per barrel (reaching its highest level since June), while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 1% and traded at $85.19. Hegseth stated that the U.S. has maintained an operation since May that has allowed approximately 500 million barrels of oil to pass through the area, but the risk of commercial flow collapsing keeps markets on edge.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
