Trump says US launched fresh Iran strikes to honor fallen troops: 'We hit them very hard again'

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND: President Donald Trump said on Sunday, July 19, that the United States carried out another round of military strikes against Iran "in honor" of three American service members killed during the escalating conflict, as US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed another troop death and continued its military campaign.

The latest operation marked the ninth consecutive night of US strikes targeting Iranian sites. The developments came as tensions between Washington and Tehran continued to intensify following attacks on US forces in the region. 

Trump dedicates Iran strikes to fallen US troops

Speaking to reporters after returning to Washington from the FIFA World Cup final, Trump said the latest military operation was dedicated to the service members killed during the conflict.

"Well, we feel very badly, but, you know, those great people, those great patriots who are out there fighting that Iran could not have a nuclear weapon," Trump said.

The president again argued that Iran's military capabilities had been significantly weakened during the campaign.

"Iran has been very, very badly damaged. They've lost everything, almost, militarily. They've got very little left. They've got some missiles. They've got some drones. They've got some manufacturing ability, not much."

Trump then confirmed fresh strikes had been launched. "But we hit them very hard again tonight. And we did that in honor of the, probably three, it's probably three, as opposed to two, great patriots."

Earlier, Trump also described the deaths as "a shame" while maintaining that US military operations would continue and were aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

US strikes enter ninth night as Iran responds

Later in the day, CENTCOM announced that American forces had launched another wave of strikes against Iran for the ninth consecutive night, saying the operation was intended to continue degrading Iran's military capabilities used to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest military action followed the announcement that another US service member had died in Iraq after being injured during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone.

The death came a day after two American service members were killed while defending a US base in Jordan against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization also said US forces targeted the construction site of the Darkhovin nuclear power plant in southern Iran, while the International Atomic Energy Agency said it was reviewing reports of the attack and noted that the facility remained in the early stages of construction.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi condemned the strikes, calling them "a dangerous assault on Iran's peaceful infrastructure." He said, "Iran will take appropriate measures to defend its national interests and security."

The latest exchange of attacks comes after the collapse of last month's interim ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran, with both countries continuing military operations across the region as the conflict enters its second week.