The United States military has carried out a fresh wave of retaliatory strikes against Iran, targeting more than 80 military sites after Tehran allegedly attacked multiple commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation took place on July 7 and was launched as an immediate response to recent Iranian actions that Washington says threatened international maritime trade and violated an existing ceasefire.
Precision Strikes Target Military Infrastructure
CENTCOM said U.S. forces employed precision-guided munitions during the operation to strike a broad range of Iranian military assets.
Among the reported targets were air defense systems, command-and-control facilities, coastal radar installations, anti-ship missile capabilities and more than 60 small boats operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. officials said the objective was to reduce Iran’s capacity to conduct further attacks against commercial shipping operating through one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
Three Commercial Vessels Reportedly Attacked
The military action followed what CENTCOM described as recent Iranian attacks against three merchant ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The vessels identified by U.S. officials were the Marshall Islands-flagged M/T Al Rekayyat, the Saudi Arabia-flagged M/T Wedyan, and the Liberian-flagged M/T Cyprus Prosperity.
U.S. authorities characterized the incidents as unprovoked attacks on civilian shipping that endangered freedom of navigation and disrupted a critical international trade corridor.
U.S. Says Attacks Breached Ceasefire Commitments
CENTCOM stated that the reported strikes on commercial vessels represented a serious breach of the ceasefire and accused Iran of undermining international maritime security.
The command said protecting commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains a key priority, given the waterway’s importance to global energy supplies and international commerce.
Military Warns Iran of Further Consequences
Following the operation, CENTCOM said U.S. forces remain on alert and are prepared to respond to any additional actions that violate the ceasefire agreement.
The command stressed that it would continue holding Iran accountable if further attacks on international shipping or other violations occur, signaling that U.S. military forces remain positioned to conduct additional operations if necessary.
