The United States has carried out military strikes in at least seven countries so far in 2026, with sustained operations against Iran, as well as actions in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Venezuela, and reported operations in Nigeria. The year-end tally remains far from the thirteen-country threshold, and the conflict in Iran continues to shape the broader picture.
As of August 14, 2026, CNN reported that there is 'no genuinely safe shipping route' in the area of the Iran war, despite ongoing diplomatic talks between Iran and Oman. The Iran conflict has involved exchanges of strikes with US forces along the Strait of Hormuz since it began in February, according to the same report.
Iran and the Gulf Arab state of Oman have made progress toward a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, regional officials told the Associated Press. Under the emerging agreement, ships would enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman, with service fees charged for providing security and preserving the maritime environment.
The Trump administration has also pursued economic pressure, escalating sanctions under what the White House has called Operation Economic Fury. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called this component the "financial equivalent" of a bombing campaign, as countries that buy oil from Iran or bank with it could be sanctioned.
The next development to watch is whether the Hormuz reopening talks produce a final agreement, which could reduce the scope of US military engagement, or whether new operations emerge in additional countries before the end of the year. The current odds of the US striking thirteen countries stand at 0.6%, with 24-hour volume of $101,975.
