The United States Armed Forces launched a new wave of attacks against military targets in Iran, in retaliation for the aggression against three merchant ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, an incident that once again raised tension in the Persian Gulf and put at risk the fragile ceasefire agreement reached between both countries.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the operation aimed to “impose serious consequences for directing and attacking commercial ship crews made up of innocent civilians in an international sea lane.”

The US military command stated that the offensive responds to the Iranian attacks registered during the last 24 hours against three commercial vessels sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategic maritime routes for the global oil trade.

“The aggression demonstrated by Iran was unjustified, dangerous and a clear violation of the ceasefire,” CENTCOM said.

According to US officials cited by The New York Times and the Reuters agency, the bombings were directed against air defense systems, coastal surveillance radars, surface-to-air missile batteries, anti-ship missile launch platforms and positions used for the deployment of military drones.

In addition, port facilities linked to Islamic Revolutionary Guard operations were also among the targets attacked.

Iranian state media reported explosions in Qeshm, Bandar Abbas and Sirik, three strategic points located in front of the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran maintains military and naval infrastructure intended to control the maritime passage.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi condemned the US offensive and assured that Washington failed to comply with the memorandum of understanding signed in June to reduce hostilities.

“The US attacks constitute a violation of the provisional agreement,” the Iranian official wrote on the X social network.

The bombings also coincided with the funeral ceremonies of the late Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose death at the beginning of the conflict caused a reconfiguration of the political and military leadership of the Islamic Republic.

The US offensive occurred just hours after the British center UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that three merchant ships were hit while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The British agency, in charge of monitoring maritime safety in the region, reported that the vessels suffered projectile impacts and recorded fires on board, although it did not specify the number of victims.