US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates against the Gulf states

The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran after reporting the death of another American service member. In response, Tehran initiated attacks targeting Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. Reports indicate that a U.S. strike rendered the bridge linking Bandar Abbas and Kehuristan in Hormozgan province unusable. This escalation marks a significant increase in hostilities as Tehran retaliates against Gulf states following the expanded American military operations on July 19, 2026.