BBC News, English Go to content Main Watch Listen Main Sections News Economy Health & Science Culture & Arts World Cup 2026 Investigations News Economy Health & Science Culture & Arts World Cup 2026 Investigations Trump orders to begin strikes against Iran for the third night, and Tehran responds by targeting American facilities in Kuwait. The image is sourced from Getty Images.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the start of the third night of American military strikes against Iran, as a new escalation of the confrontation between Washington and Tehran, directed by President Donald Trump.
Trump had stated in an interview with "Hugh Hewitt" on Monday that "Iran will face strong strikes today and tomorrow," just hours after announcing the re-imposition of a maritime blockade on Iranian ports in the Hormuz Strait region.
The American president confirmed that operations will also target Iran's nuclear facilities located under the mountains, vowing to destroy them completely. He said, "We will eliminate the nuclear facilities under the mountains in Iran," referring to the fortified Iranian nuclear sites.
He told reporters in the Oval Office that reaching an agreement with Tehran to end the war is still "possible" despite the new U.S. strikes on Iran and the re-imposition of a blockade on Iranian ports.
In the same context, Trump accused Tehran of not adhering to previous understandings, stating that "the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran was a test, and they did not respect it," considering that Iran violated its commitments.
Following those statements, Fars News Agency reported hearing explosions in several Iranian islands located in the Gulf, including Kish and Qeshm islands and Abu Musa island.
Tasnim agency, close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, also reported that "violent" explosions were heard in the city of Konarak around midnight on Monday Tehran time, also noting reports of explosions on Lark Island and in Chabahar.
Iranian authorities reported two deaths and several injuries in an American attack on various locations from Abadan city in the southwest of Iran on Monday.
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The local Mahr news agency reported explosions of unknown origin in two areas in southern Iran near the Hormuz Strait.
In another development, Iranian military sources stated that the air defense systems of the Revolutionary Guard shot down an American drone model MQ-1 over the Hormuz Strait, confirming that the downing operation was carried out using "advanced air defense systems" linked to the unified Iranian air defense network.
Iranian state television reported that Iran targeted American military facilities and equipment in Kuwait using drones.
In contrast, ABC News reported that the White House formally notified the U.S. Congress of the resumption of military operations against Iran, according to a copy of the notification obtained by the network.
The letter, dated July 10 and addressed to acting Senate President Chuck Grassley, stated that "U.S. ground forces are not participating in these strikes," confirming that the operations will be "limited, deliberate, and planned to reduce civilian casualties."
This notification comes amid legal and political controversy in Washington, as some Democrats in Congress see that the administration exceeded the 60-day timeframe allowed by the War Powers Act to carry out military operations against Iran without Congressional approval.
The White House earlier confirmed that the ceasefire went into effect before the end of that timeframe, and thus it was not exceeded. However, it remains unclear whether the new notification dated July 10 will be considered the beginning of a new timeframe, or whether Republicans will push this interpretation.
On Monday, Trump stated that the United States decided to re-impose the maritime blockade on Iran, and to charge a 20 percent tariff on all goods shipped through the Hormuz Strait, after Tehran announced the closure of this vital waterway.