The U.S. military said Sunday it had completed its latest round of airstrikes targeting Iran after hitting some 140 targets, marking the third round of strikes this week against Iran. The U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said targets included missile and drone launch sites, ammunition dumps, communication equipment, and other sites. It said the attacks “degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels freely transiting the Strait” of Hormuz.
Attack on Container Ship Triggers Response
The new strikes came after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, setting the container ship ablaze and forcing its crew to abandon it. Posting on X, CENTCOM said: "A civilian crew member is missing and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engine room damage. The United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait."
Details of the Strikes
U.S. forces hit approximately 140 Iranian military targets with precision munitions launched by land- and sea-based fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels. Targets included Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks, and coastal surveillance locations. During three nights of strikes this week, CENTCOM has struck more than 300 targets at the direction of the Commander in Chief to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels freely transiting the strait.
Impact on Shipping
Commercial vessel transits through the vital international maritime corridor continue. Since early May, U.S. forces have helped facilitate the successful transit of more than 800 commercial vessels and 400 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran apparently responded with strikes targeting Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday morning.
Strait of Hormuz Closed
Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) says the Strait of Hormuz is closed until further notice, according to Iranian state media. The IRGC navy claimed the closure followed an attempt by several vessels to move along an "unapproved route" in the strait. In a statement posted on Telegram by state-owned Iranian broadcaster IRIB, the navy said that one of the ships was struck by a warning shot and stopped. "The Strait of Hormuz will be closed until further notice and until the end of the US interventions in this area and no vessel will be allowed to pass," the statement said. It warned that if the closure led to "new aggression against" Iran, more bases in the region would be targeted. Kuwait's military says its air defenses are firing at an incoming attack.
