Trump reportedly tells CENTCOM to ‘open the gates of hell’ on Iran
Trump reportedly ordered CENTCOM to ‘open the gates of hell’ on Iran after two US troops were killed in Jordan. Strikes have already hit Bandar Abbas, and Strait of Hormuz risk is back in focus.
President Trump has reportedly directed US Central Command to escalate operations against Iran after two American service members were killed in Jordan. Israeli Channel 14 first carried the language, and US officials have since echoed it to American outlets.
What was reported
Israeli outlet Channel 14 is reporting that Trump told CENTCOM to open the gates of hell on Iran following the deadly attack. The exact wording remains attributed to C14, and neither the White House nor CENTCOM had publicly confirmed that quote as of publication.
A US official told NPR that Trump has ordered CENTCOM to act in the coming hours, with CBS and CBC sources indicating a more widespread attack could begin within moments and intensify tonight.
The trigger: US troops killed in Jordan
CENTCOM announced that two US service members were killed in action on July 17 while American and partner forces defended Jordan against Iranian ballistic missiles and drones. A third American service member remains missing in action, and four more were medically evacuated to a hospital in Jordan.
The directive was followed by the 8th round of US airstrikes on Iran, marking more than a week of continuous military action against Iranian targets.
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Strait of Hormuz in the crosshairs
US forces launched a new wave of airstrikes against Iran in the early hours of Sunday, July 19, the eighth consecutive night of attacks targeting Iranian port infrastructure in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM stated the operation aims to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and to punish the IRGC for the missile and drone attack on US troops in Jordan.
Iranian state media reported airstrikes overnight on Bandar Abbas, a key port city in southern Iran’s Hormozgan Province, located along the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly a fifth of global oil supply transits that chokepoint, so any shipping disruption feeds directly into crude tape.
Regional response and risk
The US issued a worldwide travel warning amid the regional escalation, and Iran’s foreign minister reportedly warned that countries hosting US facilities could become legitimate targets.
Traders should assume elevated headline risk into every Asia and European open until the Pentagon confirms the operational scope.
Options market and stocks to watch
Defense primes and oil names are the obvious tape here. Watch for flow in:
- LMT — Lockheed Martin, direct beneficiary of sustained CENTCOM munitions burn.
- RTX — RTX, exposure to Patriot and missile-defense restock cycles.
- NOC — Northrop Grumman, watch for bid on prolonged air campaign narrative.
- XOM — Exxon, sensitivity to Strait of Hormuz supply premium in crude.
- USO — oil ETF, cleanest proxy for a sustained Brent/WTI gap higher.
Also watch broad tape hedges via SPY and VIX products if the escalation broadens beyond Iranian territory.
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