US CENTCOM Expands Strikes Against Iran Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has launched its second wave of precision strikes against Iranian military targets, expanding its campaign to degrade Tehran's ability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz. The latest round targeted approximately 80 to 90 sites, including air defense systems, missile installations, and vessels tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The operations were initiated under President Trump's directive after a violated ceasefire, with Iran declaring its intention to close the Strait of Hormuz and taking aggressive action against commercial shipping. The primary focus was on the IRGC's naval assets and coastal missile batteries, signaling Washington's objective to neutralize Iran's capacity to disrupt maritime traffic.

Crypto markets have surprisingly absorbed the shock, with Bitcoin fluctuating between $62,000 and $71,500 during the initial phases of the conflict. The second wave of strikes produced only a modest dip of around 2%, with total liquidations across crypto markets reaching an estimated $350 million to $450 million.

Traders should be watching crude oil futures, the VIX, and Treasury yields as leading indicators for how this filters into crypto. A pattern from the July 7-8 strikes is instructive: markets dipped, absorbed the shock, and largely recovered within days.