The United States launched additional airstrikes against Iran on Sunday, deepening a military campaign that began after U.S. troops were killed in Jordan last week. Iran's retaliatory missiles toward Jordan have raised fears the conflict could spill into neighboring Israel for the first time in weeks, according to the Associated Press and U.S. Central Command.
The strikes target Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls Tehran's ballistic missile arsenal. The campaign has now entered its second week, with the U.S. hitting bridges, water desalination plants, electrical facilities and military installations across Iran. Footage released by the military showed strikes carried out by fighter jets and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from naval vessels.
A significant development emerged when Iran's atomic energy agency said U.S. strikes targeted the construction site of a planned nuclear power plant in the southwest at Darkhovin. The International Atomic Energy Agency stated the site was in "very early stages of construction" and contained no nuclear material during its last inspection. Satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC showed earth clearing but limited construction as of July 9, AP reported.
Jordan's military said it shot down several Iranian missiles launched toward the port city of Aqaba. The country hosts major U.S. bases and relies on American air-defense systems. Jordan's armed forces confirmed no casualties or damage resulted from the strikes, according to state media.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers broadly supported the administration's military response while calling for measured escalation. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the strikes were "necessary and proportionate" responses to Iranian aggression that killed American service members. Representative Adam Smith of Washington emphasized that Congress would need regular briefings as operations continue.
Humanitarian organizations aligned with progressive causes expressed alarm at infrastructure targeting. The International Committee of the Red Cross reiterated that civilian water and power facilities receive protections under international humanitarian law unless demonstrably used for military purposes, a standard the U.S. has not publicly clarified in each case. Progressive advocacy groups called on the administration to prioritize diplomatic off-ramps despite military action.
Former Obama administration officials argued that strikes should be paired with renewed outreach to prevent inadvertent escalation. "The military pressure must be accompanied by back-channel communication to establish red lines both sides understand," wrote former Special Envoy Brian Hook in an analysis shared with reporters.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican lawmakers largely praised the sustained bombardment as long overdue. Senate Minority Leader John Thune said Iran had been emboldened for years and "the time for measured responses has passed." Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a frequent foreign policy hawk, argued that targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure construction site sends an essential signal about preventing weapons development.
Conservative commentators emphasized the strategic importance of degrading Iranian military capabilities. The Heritage Foundation's Defense Fellow wrote that striking coastal surveillance and maritime capabilities "directly addresses Iran's ability to threaten global oil shipping through Hormuz." Talk radio hosts echoed this framing, arguing Obama-era restraint allowed Tehran to expand its regional footprint.
Former Trump administration officials noted that President Trump's threat to target power stations and bridges appears to be guiding current operations. "This is exactly what was promised," one former official said on social media. "Iran must choose between concessions or continued degradation of their infrastructure."
What the Numbers Show
The Strait of Hormuz handled approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies before hostilities began in late February when Israel launched its campaign alongside U.S. support. Current shipping traffic has collapsed to a fraction of normal volumes: eight transits on Saturday and three on Friday, compared with an average of nearly 140 daily passages before the war, according to a maritime warning issued by a U.S. Navy oversight organization.
U.S. military figures show 16 American service members killed and over 430 wounded since combat operations commenced. Iranian health authorities reported Sunday that at least 50 people have been killed and 517 wounded in recent U.S. strikes, though Tehran has provided no overall accounting of its military losses or equipment damage.
The interim nuclear deal reached weeks ago set a 60-day timeline for negotiating a permanent end to the conflict and addressing Iran's atomic program. According to Iranian state media, that halfway point has now passed with both sides accusing the other of violations. The U.S. has reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, having redirected five ships and disabled one vessel since Saturday.
In Kuwait, about 90% of drinking water comes from desalination facilities. The country reported one power and water plant was struck for the second time in two days, though authorities said the power grid remains stable. Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi accused Iran of war crimes for infrastructure attacks.
The Bottom Line
The conflict has entered a dangerous new phase as both military operations and diplomatic efforts show signs of collapse. With the interim deal effectively defunct and no announced path back to negotiations, the U.S. campaign appears focused on degrading Iranian capabilities while hoping economic pressure through Hormuz strangulation compels concessions.
Israel's warning about missiles reaching its territory for the first time in weeks suggests regional spillover is no longer theoretical. Jordan and Gulf Arab states face continued targeting despite their air defense successes, raising questions about whether Iran's strategy aims to fracture the U.S.-allied coalition supporting Israeli operations.
What happens next likely depends on whether Iran perceives the military pressure as unsustainable or decides escalation serves its interests better than negotiation. The White House has not announced any plans for direct talks with Tehran, though officials have said diplomatic channels remain open through third parties. Watch for any change in shipping traffic through Hormuz and further statements from Khamenei, who warned Saturday of "unforgettable lessons" if U.S. attacks continue.