U.S. Strikes Expand Into Northern Iran, Blockade Enforcement Hits Strait of Hormuz

On July 16, 2026, the U.S. extended its military campaign against Iran into the country's north and disabled a vessel attempting to run a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, per Britannica. The strikes follow consecutive nights of attacks on Iran's coastal defenses and missile sites since July 14, after a June diplomatic agreement collapsed. Iran warned it would target regional infrastructure if strikes continued.