Admiral Brad Cooper said Iranian forces deliberately attacked seven commercial ships over the past week, leaving approximately 10 civilian crew members killed, wounded, or missing. He also said Iran launched dozens of missiles and drones toward neighboring Gulf countries.
Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), stated that Iran deliberately attacked seven commercial ships over the past week, resulting in approximately 10 civilian crew members killed, wounded, or missing. He further said Iranian forces launched dozens of missiles and drones toward neighboring Gulf countries.
The Zioneer first reported the statement at 02:21 Jerusalem, noting the deliberate attacks on the ships. A subsequent bulletin at 02:30 focused on the missile and drone launches. The current report consolidates the full statement.
The statement comes amid an ongoing U.S.-Iran confrontation. CENTCOM has conducted multiple rounds of strikes against Iranian coastal defenses, missile sites, and drone facilities over the past week, hitting over 300 targets, as The Zioneer reported on July 12–14. The U.S. has deployed more than 50,000 troops to the region.
The statement does not specify the exact locations of the attacks or the nationalities of the crew members. It also does not detail any response from the targeted Gulf states.
4 developments
- DevelopingIran Claims US Targeted Its Ships; Disagreements Persist in Talks
- StrongUS strikes targeted five Iranian provinces, Health Ministry says, confirming 14 dead, 78 wounded
- StrongCENTCOM issues fresh denial: Iran's claim of attacking U.S. Navy ships is false
- DevelopingIranian news agency: US strikes hit 7 sites on Iran's southern coast
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
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