Trump launches 'Operation B*** Slap' in retaliation for Iran shooting ships in Strait of Hormuz: 'Going with his gut'

By JAMES GORDON, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 02:50, 10 July 2026 | Updated: 02:50, 10 July 2026 President Donald Trump has escalated America's military response to Iran after a string of attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The White House has signaled it is prepared to keep striking for days, or even weeks, if Tehran refuses to back down. Some of Trump's advisers have reportedly taken to referring to the offensive by the informal nickname 'Operation B**** Slap,' according to the New York Post.  Multiple administration officials told the newspaper the phrase has been used privately in conversations and emails, although White House and Pentagon officials stressed it is not the official name of any military operation. Behind the scenes, officials say the duration of the renewed bombing campaign will depend almost entirely on how Iran responds in the coming days. Trump has made clear he has little appetite for allowing further attacks on international shipping to go unanswered, particularly after Iran targeted multiple vessels in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week. 'He still wants this thing to be over. But if Iran is shooting at ships, he's not just gonna sit there and do nothing,' a source close to the White House told the Post. Another former White House official told the paper that Trump's decision-making has become increasingly personal as tensions mount. President Donald Trump ordered renewed US military strikes after Iran attacked commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials said the military campaign could last days or weeks The US unleashed a new round of strikes on Iran and Tehran targets Gulf allies after Trump claimed the Iranians were begging for a deal but can't be trusted 'Trump is not coordinating with anyone... he's going with his gut,' the former official said. The president's latest military push marks a sharp shift from the fragile diplomatic efforts that had followed months of fighting. Trump declared this week that both the three-month ceasefire and the more recent memorandum of understanding with Tehran were effectively finished.  He warned Iran's leaders they could face attacks on critical infrastructure, a renewed blockade and even the seizure of Kharg Island if hostilities continue. His increasingly combative rhetoric has also caught attention inside Washington. On Wednesday, Trump branded Iran's leadership 'scum,' 'liars,' 'loco' and 'sick,' language that is said to have surprised some senior officials, although a former White House official said was little disagreement with his tougher approach. 'This is all Trump, exactly as he likes it,' the former official said. '[It is] almost impossible to tell what his next move is until he makes the decision himself.' While the colorful nickname has circulated among some senior advisers, several administration officials emphasized it is purely informal and should not be confused with the military's official operational titles. Vessels are seen in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on Thursday Supporters of Hezbollah attend a memorial ceremony mourning Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Beirut's southern suburbs on Wednesday Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said the US had responded '20-1' to Iran's attacks According to the Post, some sources familiar with internal discussions claim to have never heard the phrase used. Even as the military campaign intensifies, Trump has continued to leave the door open to diplomacy. Officials said the president has preserved a range of options - from sustained military action to renewed negotiations involving Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and first son-in-law Jared Kushner should Iran seek fresh talks. Meanwhile, the fighting has continued to expand on the ground. Iran's Fars News Agency reported that during the second consecutive night of US strikes, American forces targeted a rail bridge near the Turkmenistan border, severing a key transportation corridor linking Iran with China and Russia. Tehran responded on Thursday by launching missiles and drones toward US military installations in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan, according to Iranian officials.  Those countries later said their air defenses intercepted the incoming projectiles. The latest escalation follows a series of attacks earlier this week in which Iran targeted three commercial ships traveling along the US-preferred shipping route off Oman's coast rather than the route promoted by Tehran. Speaking aboard Air Force One while returning from a stop in the United Kingdom, Trump insisted the United States had delivered an overwhelming response. 'We just hit them very hard, and I'd say we hit them 20-1. Every time they hit us, we're going to hit them 20. We did a little something today, but it was really retribution for last night. They hit actually three boats, not two,' he told reporters. The president also argued Iran's military position had deteriorated significantly. 'We've already won militarily. They have very little left. And they want to make a deal so badly. They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly. I just don't know if they're worthy... I don't know that they're going to honor the deal, that's the problem.' A woman looks on behind a poster of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei  A family of mourners poses for keepsake photos under a banner set up in a main thoroughfare near the Imam Reza Shrine on Thursday in Mashhad, Iran ‌Trump called Spain a 'terrible partner' in NATO as he railed against allies for not supporting the war on Iran Trump suggested Iran's attacks on shipping reflected a leadership acting irrationally. 'They're sort of crazy, to be honest with you. They're sort of crazy. They're a little bit out of control, but they want to make a deal, badly,' he said. There has been little public indication from Tehran that it is preparing to soften its position. During funeral events for Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, mourners carried large banners calling for Trump's death. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also condemned Trump's rhetoric, accusing the US president of resorting to inflammatory language. 'Iranians... do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action,' Araghchi said on Wednesday. Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued his own warning as the confrontation deepened. 'Let me put it plainly: if you strike, you'll get hit,' he said on Thursday. 'Don't flail around pointlessly, or you'll sink even deeper: the Strait of Hormuz will only open with 'Iranian arrangements,' not American threats.' The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for further comment.