U.S. Central Command said it struck Iranian military targets overnight, including naval capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets. The announcement noted that more than 50,000 U.S. service members remain deployed across the Middle East.
U.S. Central Command announced overnight strikes on Iranian military targets, including naval capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets. The statement, released Thursday morning, detailed the targets of the ongoing campaign, which the U.S. says aims to degrade Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement comes after the 12th consecutive night of strikes was confirmed earlier this week.
The Zioneer reported on Sat Jul 18 at 21:53 Jerusalem that CENTCOM had completed the 12th consecutive night of operations. Over the course of the campaign, which began in mid-July, CENTCOM has released footage of strikes and progressively detailed target categories, including command centers, maritime capabilities, and drone warehouses. The U.S. has noted that Iran has attacked over 30 commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz in the past three months, and that over 50,000 U.S. service members remain deployed across the Middle East.
The strikes are part of a broader U.S. response to Iranian attacks on American forces and commercial shipping. As The Zioneer reported on Fri Jul 17, the campaign had entered its seventh night, with CENTCOM confirming strikes on command centers and naval sites. The operation has been described as a "retaliatory" campaign, with CENTCOM linking some strikes to an Iranian attack on U.S. troops in Jordan on July 17.
The extent of damage from the overnight strikes and any Iranian response remain unconfirmed.
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