WASHINGTON — The United States launched a fresh round of military strikes against Iranian targets after accusing Tehran of violating a ceasefire by attacking commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said, marking the latest escalation in the conflict between the two countries.
CENTCOM said the strikes were carried out in response to what it described as Iranian attacks on three commercial ships in the strategic waterway, calling the incidents "a clear violation of the ceasefire" and saying the operation was intended to impose "heavy costs" on Iran's military capabilities. According to the U.S. military, the strikes targeted air defense systems, command-and-control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile assets and dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media reported explosions in several southern locations, including Sirik, Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, but Iranian authorities had not immediately released an official assessment of damage or casualties. Reuters could not independently verify the reports or the extent of the strikes.
The renewed military action follows mounting tensions over maritime security in the Gulf, with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz already disrupted amid the deteriorating security situation. The waterway is a critical route for global oil exports, and the latest developments have heightened concerns over regional stability.
As of July 17, officials had not announced any new ceasefire arrangements, and both the operational impact of the strikes and any further military response remained unclear. Authorities on both sides continued to issue statements as the situation developed.
