The U.S. military has concluded its recent series of airstrikes directed at Iran, striking around 140 targets. This marks the third set of strikes this week against Iran. The U.S. military’s Central Command confirmed that the targets included missile and drone launch sites, ammunition depots, communication facilities, and other locations. The purpose of these attacks is to diminish Iran’s capacity to harm civilian mariners and commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
These new strikes followed an incident where Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, causing it to catch fire and prompting the crew to abandon the vessel. In response, the U.S. Central Command stated that a crew member is missing, and the vessel is immobilized due to an onboard fire and substantial engine room damage. The United States aims to impose severe consequences by continuously weakening Iran’s ability to target civilian mariners and commercial ships in the strait.
Reportedly, Iran retaliated with strikes on Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday morning. The U.S. Central Command announced that it has completed a third round of strikes this week against Iran, holding them responsible for the attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes targeted approximately 140 Iranian military sites using precision munitions launched by various air and naval assets.
These strikes hit Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage sites, communication networks, and coastal surveillance positions. Over three consecutive nights this week, more than 300 targets have been struck to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels in the strait. Despite these actions, commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz have continued with U.S. forces facilitating the passage of over 800 commercial vessels and 400 million barrels of crude oil since early May.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) declared that the Strait of Hormuz is closed until further notice, following an incident where vessels attempted to navigate an unauthorized route in the strait. The IRGC navy reported that one ship was fired upon as a warning and stopped, leading to the closure of the strait until the end of U.S. interventions in the area. Any vessel attempting to pass through will not be permitted. The statement also cautioned that any new aggression against Iran could result in the targeting of additional bases in the region.
Meanwhile, Kuwait’s military announced that its air defenses are engaging an incoming attack.