Intelligence Briefing — Thursday, July 23, 2026

Kinetic Engagements and US Airstrikes For the 12th consecutive night, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted airstrikes against Iranian military infrastructure. These 27 recorded strikes targeted maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets across locations including Ahvaz, Bushehr, Shalamcheh, Kermanshah, and Islamabad-e-Gharb. Notably, a U.S. B-1B Lancer strategic bomber participated in the campaign for the first time. CENTCOM reported that these operations are intended to degrade Iran's ability to threaten maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Two fatalities and 11 injuries were confirmed following these strikes. IRGC Offensive Activity Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces conducted significant retaliatory activity, including 12 missile strikes and 16 drone sorties. IRGC sources claimed successful targeting of U.S. military facilities at Camp Buehring, Ali Al-Salem Air Base, and Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, alleging damage to Patriot missile batteries and logistics storage. CENTCOM acknowledged the threat, though it did not confirm the reported levels of destruction. Separately, Houthi forces claimed a strike on the Saudi-owned vessel Encelia in the Red Sea, resulting in a fire in the ship's bow. Regional Defense and Deployments Electronic warfare capabilities are being reinforced in the theater. Two EA-37B aircraft are deploying to Souda Bay, Greece, to support signal jamming operations against Iranian air defense and command-and-control networks. An E-11A BACN aircraft has reached Prince Sultan Air Base to streamline communication between disparate strike groups. Defensive posture remains high, with missile interceptions recorded near Erbil and Kuwait. Diplomatic and Political Context Official diplomatic communication remains limited. While the U.S. and Iran continue their kinetic exchange, broader regional concerns persist regarding trade and maritime security. Diplomatic efforts by the U.S. continue to focus on regional partnership stability, evidenced by discussions with Vietnamese officials at the ASEAN Summit to bolster defense and security cooperation.