The United States has launched a third round of military strikes against Iran this week, targeting around 140 military sites in response to Tehran's alleged attack on a Cyprus-flagged commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest operation struck Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition depots, communication networks and coastal surveillance facilities.
CENTCOM said more than 300 military targets have been hit over the past three nights as part of an effort to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
According to the US military, the latest strikes followed an attack by Iran's Revolutionary Guards on a Cyprus-flagged container ship. The vessel reportedly caught fire, suffered severe engine room damage and left one crew member missing.
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"The operation was carried out under the direction of the President of the United States," CENTCOM said, adding that Iran had previously been given opportunities to comply with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ensuring the safety of commercial shipping but had failed to do so.
The US military also said its forces have helped more than 800 commercial vessels carrying around 400 million barrels of oil safely transit the Strait of Hormuz since early May.
Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported a maritime security incident about nine nautical miles east of Oman, though it did not immediately provide further details.
Iran has responded by announcing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice. According to Iranian state media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said one vessel attempted to use an "unauthorised route" through the waterway and was fired upon with warning shots.
The IRGC warned that no ships would be allowed to transit the strait until further notice and threatened a "severe response" if foreign powers used the incident as a pretext for further military action.
The latest escalation comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran over navigation rights and security in one of the world's most critical energy shipping routes.
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