U.S. Central Command says it launched a series of powerful strikes against Iran in retaliation for Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the aggression 'unjustified' and a violation of the ceasefire.
CENTCOM announced at 02:10 Jerusalem time that it has begun a series of powerful strikes against Iran, in retaliation for Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The statement describes the Iranian aggression as unjustified and a clear violation of the ceasefire. This is the latest official update in a rapidly unfolding campaign that began with a wave of strikes confirmed by CENTCOM at 00:32 Jerusalem, with The Washington Post reporting at 01:22 Jerusalem that operations could continue for hours. The current statement reiterates the rationale and frames the strikes as an ongoing series.
The sequence of events began Tuesday evening at 17:17 Jerusalem, when The Zioneer reported initial attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, citing UKMTO reports of a vessel attack with minor damage. Over the following hours, the thread evolved: a US official confirmed to CNN that three vessels were attacked in Omani waters, calling it a 'blatant violation' of a memorandum of understanding. Journalist Amichai Stein reported that Iran fired five missiles and drones at the ships. By 17:17 Jerusalem, the thread had consolidated reports that Iran sought to force coordination with the IRGC for passage through the Strait. What began as scattered maritime incident reports grew into a confirmed pattern of Iranian aggression, with the US weighing a range of response options before CENTCOM launched strikes overnight.
As The Zioneer reported on previous occasions, the Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint in recent months. In June, CENTCOM conducted strikes on Iranian missile and drone sites in response to attacks on commercial shipping, and the US military has repeatedly condemned Iranian actions as 'unjustified aggression' violating the ceasefire. The current strikes are the latest in a series of US retaliatory operations against Iranian assets that threaten freedom of navigation.
The scope of the strikes, specific targets, and any casualties have not been detailed. The Strait of Hormuz remains a volatile theater, and it is unclear whether Iran will respond to this latest escalation.
8 developments
- StrongCENTCOM completes additional precision strikes across Iran
- ConfirmedCENTCOM intercepts Iranian suicide drones targeting commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz
- StrongCENTCOM announces new wave of strikes across Iran after drone hits oil tanker
- StrongReport: CENTCOM expected to continue operations against Iran with wide, significant scope
Source and signal
- Internal intake