U.S. Central Command completed a new round of military strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets inside Iran on Sept. 3. The campaign has now exceeded 13 consecutive nights of operations.
The strikes represent the most significant sustained U.S. military operation against a state actor in more than two decades, carrying immediate consequences for millions of Americans through potential disruptions to global oil markets, military deployments and congressional debate over war powers.
CENTCOM, which oversees U.S. military operations across the Middle East, did not release specific target details or U.S. casualty figures in connection with the latest round. The IRGC is Iran’s premier paramilitary and intelligence organization, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States.
The campaign has extended beyond Iranian territory. In preceding weeks, U.S. and Saudi forces also conducted strikes on Iran-backed terrorist sites in Iraq, according to CENTCOM.
The sustained operation raises significant questions about congressional authorization. Under the War Powers Resolution, the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of committing U.S. forces to hostilities and generally must withdraw forces within 60 days absent congressional approval.
The military campaign coincides with a separate financial pressure track. The Treasury Department has simultaneously targeted Iran’s financial channels through UAE-based banks under what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has termed “Operation Economic Outcast.”
The IRGC commands an estimated 190,000 personnel and oversees Iran’s ballistic missile program, its network of regional proxy forces and significant portions of the Iranian economy.