The US began its ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran only after the World Cup final and trophy presentation had concluded, marking an unusually late start to Washington’s nightly bombing campaign.

US Central Command announced that the new attacks had begun at 7pm Eastern Time, while most previous nightly rounds had been launched between 2pm and 4pm.

“CENTCOM began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran at 7pm ET today for the ninth consecutive night,” the command said, claiming that the attacks would continue degrading Iranian military capabilities allegedly used against commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US wrapped up the bombing by sunrise, as usual, bringing one of the shortest nightly operations to an end after just three hours.

CENTCOM did not explain the timing or indicate that the operation had been deliberately scheduled around the international football event. However, US President Donald Trump attended the match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which went into extra time, and joined the post-game trophy presentation, which wrapped up shortly before the strikes began.

The statement also did not mention retaliation for the deaths of American troops or identify the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a specific target. By contrast, the previous night’s statement described the bombing as intended to “swiftly punish” those involved.

The number of US service members confirmed killed following recent Iranian attacks in Jordan and Iraq has risen to three, with another set of remains found in the rubble yet to be identified. Trump called the deaths a “shame,” but dismissed criticism of the war by comparing the casualties with the far greater losses suffered in Vietnam and Afghanistan.

The losses came amid growing concern in Washington that Iran has become more effective at penetrating American air defenses. The New York Times reported that Tehran still possesses ample missile stocks and has grown more adept at evading US interception systems, while the Wall Street Journal said Iranian forces had adapted by deploying high-speed, maneuverable missiles.

US forces in Jordan reportedly under Iranian missile and drone attacks on at least four occasions during the week. The strikes reportedly injured dozens of American personnel and damaged several Black Hawk helicopters, while Tehran claimed to have destroyed US fighter jets and other aircraft at Al-Azraq Air Base.

Washington and Tehran have exchanged strikes on a near-daily basis since the collapse of their latest ceasefire last week. Iran has suspended its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, while Trump has also declared the truce “over.” The growing hostilities have prompted the State Department to issue a worldwide travel warning, cautioning Americans about the potential for “unforeseen escalation.”