The U.S. military announced on Sunday the conclusion of its recent series of airstrikes against Iran, targeting approximately 140 sites. This marks the third set of strikes conducted this week. According to the U.S. Central Command, the targets comprised missile and drone launch sites, ammunition storage areas, communication facilities, and other installations. The objective of these attacks is to hinder Iran’s capability to harm civilian ships and commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The decision to carry out the airstrikes followed an incident where Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the same area, resulting in the ship catching fire and the crew abandoning it. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released a statement indicating that one crew member is missing, and the vessel is stranded due to a fire and significant damage to the engine room. The U.S. reiterated its commitment to imposing consequences on Iran for jeopardizing the safety of civilian mariners and commercial ships in the strait.
In response to the U.S. strikes, Iran reportedly launched attacks targeting Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday morning. CENTCOM provided an update, stating that these recent strikes were in retaliation for Iran’s assault on another commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. forces utilized precision munitions from various platforms to hit Iranian military targets, including missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition depots, communication networks, and surveillance locations. Over the course of three nights this week, more than 300 targets have been struck to diminish Iran’s ability to threaten civilian and commercial vessels traversing the strait.
Despite the tensions, commercial vessels continue to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Since early May, U.S. forces have facilitated the passage of over 800 commercial ships and 400 million barrels of crude oil through the vital maritime corridor. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, citing an incident where vessels attempted an unauthorized route. The IRGC navy claimed to have fired a warning shot at one of the ships, leading to the decision to close the strait temporarily.
The statement released by the IRGC navy on Telegram warned of further targeting of bases in the region if the closure is met with aggression against Iran. Additionally, Kuwait’s military reported engaging incoming attacks with air defenses.
