The Baloch rights organization Haalvsh has reportedly claimed that US military strikes hit Iranian positions near Rikpot in southern Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province. The report, which surfaced on social media, adds another data point to an already volatile stretch of US-Iran military exchanges that have kept global markets on edge throughout June and July 2026.
Here’s the thing, though: the specific claims about strikes near Bampur and Rikpot have not been corroborated by major news organizations or official military sources. And Haalvsh, while a recognized voice on human rights issues in Iran’s restive southeastern province, is primarily known for documenting protests and security incidents affecting the Baloch population, not for military intelligence reporting.
What we actually know about the US-Iran strikes
US Central Command conducted targeted operations against Iranian military installations in southern Iran during late June 2026. Those strikes were a direct response to Iranian threats against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 20% of the world’s petroleum passes through that narrow channel.
The confirmed US operations focused on degrading Iranian air defense systems, radar installations, and missile and drone launch sites along southern Iran’s coastline. Multiple military exchanges between the two nations have occurred in the weeks since.
