New Delhi, Jul 12: The United States has carried out a third round of military strikes against Iran this week after Iranian forces allegedly attacked another commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions in the strategically vital waterway.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces struck around 140 Iranian military targets on July 11 using precision-guided munitions launched by land- and sea-based aircraft, drones and naval vessels.
The targets included missile and drone launch sites, naval assets, ammunition storage facilities, communications infrastructure and coastal surveillance positions.
“US Central Command (CENTCOM) completed a third round of strikes this week against Iran… holding Iranian forces accountable for attacking another commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz,” the command said.
It said that more than 300 targets had been hit over three nights “to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels freely transiting the strait.”
According to CENTCOM, the latest strikes followed an attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the Cyprus-flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy.
The US military said one civilian crew member remains missing and the vessel suffered a fire and extensive engine room damage, leaving it unable to continue its voyage.
“Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed,” CENTCOM said. “In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait.”
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth endorsed the operation, posting on social media: “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.” The latest military action came after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed “until further notice.”
Iranian state media said the Revolutionary Guard intercepted the M/V GFS Galaxy after it allegedly switched off its tracking system and deviated from an approved shipping route.
Tehran claimed the vessel ignored repeated warnings before being stopped by what it described as warning shots. According to Al Jazeera, Iran has also claimed to have launched attacks targeting Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, while the United Arab Emirates reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones outside its borders.
Explosions were also reported in the Iranian port cities of Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Chabahar, Bandar-e Deyr, Jask and Asaluyeh following the US strikes.
The UAE Defence Ministry said missile threats detected on Sunday morning remained outside the country’s borders and that its air defence systems were operating at the highest level of readiness.
Saudi Arabia separately condemned what it described as Iran’s repeated attacks on commercial shipping, saying they threatened freedom of navigation and violated international law, Al Jazeera reported.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to avenge the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, declaring that “revenge is the will of our nation,” according to Al Jazeera.
The latest confrontation follows attacks earlier this week on commercial tankers that prompted successive US strikes inside Iran. Iranian officials have said those strikes killed 17 people and wounded 115 others, while Tehran retaliated by targeting US allies in the Gulf.
The BBC reported that despite the renewed hostilities, President Donald Trump has indicated diplomatic contacts with Tehran will continue. US officials have also urged Iran to publicly reaffirm that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to international shipping and commit to ending attacks on commercial vessels as part of efforts to restore stability in one of the world’s busiest energy transit routes.
