The United States has initiated a new series of strikes against Iran in a move to hold the nation accountable, signaling a setback in the prospects for a prompt peace agreement. The US Central Command announced late on Sunday, July 12, that it had commenced attacks aimed at weakening Iran’s capacity to target ships passing through the vital Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM stated in a post that at 5 p.m. ET, US forces under its command began executing additional strikes against Iran to further diminish its ability to threaten civilian and commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. The directive for these strikes was given by the Commander in Chief to ensure accountability for Iranian forces.
Tensions between the US and Iran have been escalating since February 28, when joint US-Israeli airstrikes targeted key Iranian installations. In response, Iran closed off the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for 20% of global oil trade.
According to reports from the Mirror, the US conducted over 100 strikes in Iran after a vessel was hit by a missile in the strait, leading the crew to abandon the burning ship. Subsequently, Iran launched attacks on various locations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, escalating the situation.
CENTCOM released a separate statement revealing that approximately 140 targets were hit, focusing on missile and drone launch sites, ammunition depots, and communication infrastructure. With the collapse of a ceasefire agreement last week, hopes for a resolution to the conflict have been severely dampened.
President Trump announced the cancellation of the deal following Tehran’s missile assaults on three oil and gas vessels in the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the week.
