### [2026-07-17](/feed/2026/07/17/index.md)

##### Middle Eastern crisis
# The U.S. military's Central Command (CENTCOM) confirms that they have destroyed the Chah Bahar Shahid Kalantari Port surveillance tower in Chabahar Port yesterday, which was allegedly used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for tracking commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. 




### Sources:

1. [The Times of Israel](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/us-military-says-it-destroyed-a-iranian-port-surveillance-tower/)

### Related:

1. [The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in a statement published by IRNA, report that two oil tankers have exploded after hitting mines south in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the U.S. Central Command disputes the claims on X as "false". ](/feed/2026/07/18/the-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-in-a-statement-published-by-irna-report-that-two-oil-tankers-have-exploded-after.md) _Context: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command_
2. [The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) says that American forces have redirected two commercial vessels since the blockade resumed. ](/feed/2026/07/15/the-united-states-central-command-centcom-says-that-american-forces-have-redirected-two-commercial-vessels-since-the-b.md) _Context: American troops, Middle Eastern crisis, U.S. Central Command_
3. [Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed "until the United States ends its acts of aggression". ](/feed/2026/07/15/iran-s-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-says-the-strait-of-hormuz-will-remain-closed-until-the-united-states-ends-its.md) _Context: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Middle Eastern crisis, Strait of Hormuz_
4. [The United States Central Command reports that a navy pilot was killed during a helicopter crash on July 1 in the Arabian Sea, bringing the death toll of American soldiers killed in the Iran war to 14. Additionally, the total amount of wounded troops rise to above 400 including from traumatic brain injuries. ](/feed/2026/07/13/the-united-states-central-command-reports-that-a-navy-pilot-was-killed-during-a-helicopter-crash-on-july-1-in-the-arabia.md) _Context: American troops, Middle Eastern crisis, U.S. Central Command_
5. [United States vice president JD Vance says that Iran and the U.S. have held technical talks based on the recent 14-point memorandum of understanding in Doha, Qatar, to discuss the Strait of Hormuz. He also states that the U.S. will not return to military action unless necessary. ](/feed/2026/07/1/united-states-vice-president-jd-vance-says-that-iran-and-the-us-have-held-technical-talks-based-on-the-recent-14-point.md) _Context: American troops, Middle Eastern crisis, Strait of Hormuz_
6. [The United States Central Command says that American forces have intercepted multiple Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. They also reaffirm that the "international trade corridor remains open for transit". ](/feed/2026/06/12/the-united-states-central-command-says-that-american-forces-have-intercepted-multiple-iranian-drones-targeting-commercia.md) _Context: American troops, Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command_
7. [A United States Army AH-64 Apache helicopter crashes near the Strait of Hormuz while on patrol. Both crew members are rescued by an unmanned vessel. In response, the U.S. Central Command launches "self-defense" missile strikes at targets across Iran at 5 p.m. ET, with an American official claiming the helicopter was downed by an Iranian drone. ](/feed/2026/06/9/a-united-states-army-ah-64-apache-helicopter-crashes-near-the-strait-of-hormuz-while-on-patrol-both-crew-members-are-re.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command_
8. [United States Central Command forces attack surveillance sites on Iran's Qeshm Island after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired at four tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz without coordinating with it. ](/feed/2026/06/6/united-states-central-command-forces-attack-surveillance-sites-on-iran-s-qeshm-island-after-the-islamic-revolutionary-gu.md) _Context: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Middle Eastern crisis, Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command_
9. [United States president Donald Trump orders the navy to open fire on any Iranian vessels placing mines along the Strait of Hormuz, after the military reportedly observed an Iranian mine-laying operation. ](/feed/2026/04/23/united-states-president-donald-trump-orders-the-navy-to-open-fire-on-any-iranian-vessels-placing-mines-along-the-strait.md) _Context: American troops, Middle Eastern crisis, Strait of Hormuz_
10. [The United States Central Command says that its military has struck over 8,000 targets in Iran, including 130 Iranian Navy vessels, since the start of the war. ](/feed/2026/03/21/the-united-states-central-command-says-that-its-military-has-struck-over-8000-targets-in-iran-including-130-iranian-na.md) _Context: American troops, Middle Eastern crisis, U.S. Central Command_