The United States has launched a fresh wave of powerful military strikes against Iran after Tehran was accused of attacking three commercial vessels transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions across the Middle East.
According to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation targeted more than 80 Iranian military sites, including air defence systems, command-and-control facilities, coastal radar installations, anti-ship missile positions and dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fast attack boats operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. military said the strikes were intended to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten international shipping and safeguard one of the world’s busiest oil transit routes.
Washington accused Iran of carrying out “unwarranted and dangerous” attacks on three merchant vessels, describing the incidents as a clear violation of the fragile ceasefire that had been in place since April.
The strikes represent the first major U.S. military action against Iran since a previous round of retaliatory attacks late last month.
Iranian authorities condemned the American operation as an act of aggression and vowed a “crushing response.”
State media reported explosions in several southern coastal areas, while military leaders insisted the country would not tolerate foreign interference in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a significant share of the world’s oil exports passes.
The latest exchange has heightened fears of a wider regional conflict and renewed concerns over global energy supplies.
Oil markets reacted nervously as investors monitored the growing confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with analysts warning that any prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could have serious consequences for international trade and fuel prices.
