Combat Assessment: What’s Actually Happening in the Strait of Hormuz episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 16, 2026 · 48 MIN

Combat Assessment: What’s Actually Happening in the Strait of Hormuz

from Making the Argument with Nick Freitas · host Nick Freitas

I want to give you a combat assessment of what is actually happening in the Strait of Hormuz right now. This is an active war. The United States has 20 warships and hundreds of aircraft in the region. We have struck over 300 Iranian military targets in three nights. And Iran is still shooting back. So let me break down what each side has, what each side has lost, and — critically — what Iran has actually hit versus what they’re claiming they hit. SPONSOR: BRUNT Workwear BRUNT Workwear builds boots and gear for tradesmen that are tough as hell but comfortable the second you pull them out of the box, with zero break-in. Every product is named after a real tradesman who helped design it, and the limited-edition America's 250th collection is available this July while supplies last. Use code NICK for $10 off plus a risk-free trial at https://www.BRUNTworkwear.com/Nick ----- GET YOUR MERCH HERE: https://shop.nickjfreitas.com/ BECOME A MEMBER OF THE IC: https://NickJFreitas.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickjfreitas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NickFreitasVA Twitter: https://twitter.com/NickJFreitas YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Nickjfreitas TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nickjfreitas3.0 00:00:00 – Intro 00:01:23 – Three carrier strike groups: the US naval buildup 00:02:41 – What's been hit: 300+ targets across three nights 00:04:28 – A military first: unmanned surface vessels in combat 00:05:56 – Iran's only real leverage 00:07:15 – Scoring Iran's claims: the battle damage assessment 00:10:01 – Confirmed: the precision hit on Al Udeid's comms terminal 00:12:23 – Debunked: the claimed strikes on US destroyers 00:13:58 – Contested: the missile attack on Jordan's air base 00:15:54 – Unverified: the strike on US naval logistics in Oman 00:16:56 – Confirmed: Iranian drones are hitting commercial shipping 00:20:05 – The Tet Offensive effect: attacks as messaging 00:22:51 – Iran's playbook: the IRGC mosquito fleet 00:24:33 – The blockade: how long can Iran keep the strait closed? 00:26:51 – Iran's ultimate strategy 00:30:40 – What real regime change would actually require 00:33:10 – Best case vs likely case: the midterm clock 00:41:08 – Democrats block the defense bill 00:43:41 – The honest concerns: strategic, tactical, political Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Combat Assessment: What’s Actually Happening in the Strait of Hormuz

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