CENTCOM intensifies attacks against Iran to weaken its military capacity in the Strait of Hormuz
US Central Command forces began massive new air and sea offensive against strategic positions in Iran
The United States launched this Sunday a new series of attacks against military targets in Iran as part of an offensive ordered by President Donald Trump, with the purpose of reducing the ability of Iranian forces to threaten maritime transit in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the main routes for global oil and gas trade.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that operations began during the afternoon and were authorized to “continue to undermine” Iran's offensive capacity, after a Cyprus-flagged merchant ship was attacked while sailing through the strait. The incident caused a fire on board and left one crew member missing.
According to the US military command, the bombings are part of a campaign directed against infrastructure used by Iranian forces to launch attacks against civilian and commercial vessels that cross the sea route.
Washington seeks to guarantee navigation as regional tension increases
According to information from CENTCOM, US forces have attacked around 140 military targets since the start of the offensive, including missile systems, drone facilities, ammunition depots, Revolutionary Guard fast boats, communications centers and coastal surveillance positions.
A US official, cited on condition of anonymity, said the operations seek to reduce Iran's ability to affect the security of international shipping in the region. In response, official Iranian media reported explosions in the vicinity of Qeshm Island, as well as in Bandar Abbas and Hajiabad.
Local authorities indicated that several projectiles hit military installations with no casualties reported. The new escalation occurs while Washington and Tehran maintain a provisional 60-day agreement with the aim of negotiating a permanent settlement to the conflict. However, hostilities have intensified following recent clashes around the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with NBC, President Trump assured that the sea route remains open to international trade, despite the fact that Iran had previously announced the closure of the strait "until further notice." The president reiterated that military operations seek to protect freedom of navigation and respond to actions attributed to Iranian forces in one of the most important strategic areas for global energy supply.