The U.S. military conducted strikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, following a missile attack by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that damaged a commercial cargo ship. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the strikes began at 7:15 p.m. ET, marking the third round of U.S. attacks on Iran within the week.
The situation escalated after the IRGC declared the Strait of Hormuz 'closed until further notice' and attacked the cargo ship, which suffered significant damage and left a civilian crew member missing. In response, U.S. strikes targeted Iranian air and surface-surveillance radars, missile and drone storage facilities, and launch sites. CENTCOM stated that the U.S. aims to reduce Iran's capability to threaten civilian shipping in the region.
The IRGC claimed it had warned vessels against using an unauthorized route through the strait and fired a warning shot at the cargo ship when it did not change course. Oman had proposed reopening shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz during recent diplomatic talks, but the proposal was not approved by Iran's delegation and was returned for further discussion in Tehran.