Miami (USA).- The United States military reported this Wednesday that it carried out a new series of strikes against Iranian military targets that “further degraded the ability” of Iran to attack the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 25% of the world’s maritime oil trade passes.
The United States Central Command (Centcom) specified on X that the operation began today at 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time (11:30 GMT) and lasted for 90 minutes.
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During the offensive, U.S. forces employed precision munitions against coastal defense systems and cruise missile depots and launch platforms located on Greater Tunb island, in the Persian Gulf.
“The strikes further degraded Iran’s ability to attack commercial maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” detailed Centcom, based in central Florida.
Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) today accused Iran of dragging the entire Middle East into chaos through its attacks against its Arab neighbors, members of that political and economic alliance, as well as against Jordan.
The GCC states—Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Oman—as well as Jordan, are all U.S. allies and host U.S. military bases or presence in their territory or waters, and some of them have signed defense agreements with Washington.
On Tuesday, the United States Armed Forces reinstated the blockade on vessels transiting to and from Iran through the Strait of Hormuz and launched a new wave of airstrikes.
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The attacks follow the intensification of the conflict since last week, when US President Donald Trump terminated the ceasefire framework agreement signed on June 17 with the Islamic Republic, accusing Tehran of continuing attacks against vessels in Hormuz.
On Monday, Trump announced the reinstatement of the naval blockade and that Washington would charge 20% for protecting ships crossing the strait, although this Tuesday he withdrew that measure and said he would replace it with trade and investment agreements with the Gulf States.
The escalation, which began seven days ago with clashes in Hormuz, has spread across the Middle East with three nights of bombings on Iran and the Iranian response with attacks in the region.
Centcom recalled that, during the previous blockade, between April 13 and June 18, the U.S. diverted more than 140 vessels, disabled nine ships that disobeyed orders, and facilitated the passage of more than 50 ships with humanitarian aid.
