US deploys incremental warfare strategy to pressure Iran in Strait of Hormuz

The United States military has transitioned to a strategy of "incremental warfare" in the Strait of Hormuz, deploying calibrated strikes to pressure Tehran while avoiding a full-scale regional conflict. According to an analysis of recent U.S. Central Command operations, Washington conducted thirteen nights of strikes between July 11 and July 23, before pausing and resuming operations on July 29. Tactical Shifts in Operation Epic Fury Under the current administration, the U.S. has moved away from massive, sustained campaigns in favor of a model characterized by timely military announcements and targeted hard power. This approach, labeled Operation Epic Fury, aims to neutralize Iran’s capacity to threaten regional partners and international shipping lanes. U.S. Navy assets, including the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, have been active in the region, with F/A-18E Super Hornets launching sorties as recently as July 31, 2026. Military pressure has expanded geographically. Initial strikes focused on the southern coast to protect shipping, but operations have since extended toward Tabriz in northern Iran. This spatial extension forces Tehran to redistribute its air…