The U.S. Central Command (Centcom) asserted that its forces began a new wave of attacks against Iran, amid the escalation between the two countries.
“Today at 5:00 PM (Eastern Time), U.S. Central Command forces began launching further strikes against Iran to continue degrading its ability to attack civilian mariners and merchant vessels transiting freely through the Strait of Hormuz,” the agency’s statement reads. Centcom highlighted that the new offensive was ordered by the commander-in-chief, Donald Trump, to “hold Iranian forces accountable.”
Previously, Iranian media reported detonations near the port towns of Sirik, Bandar Abbas, Jask, and Qeshm, without providing further details.
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New escalation
The recent attacks are taking place amidst the new military escalation between the U.S. and Iran. Previously, Centcom announced that its forces attacked 140 Iranian targets overnight from Saturday to Sunday, in its third round of aggression against the Persian country. According to the agency, these attacks occurred after the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stopped a foreign vessel in the Strait of Hormuz by firing shots.
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These attacks are part of the escalation that began on July 8, when Washington resumed airstrikes to “impose” on Tehran “high costs” for alleged attacks on merchant ships in the strait.
In retaliation, Iran attacked U.S. military facilities at the Prince Hassan airbase in Jordan with ballistic missiles, and bombed a Patriot missile system, an ammunition depot, and a U.S. Army radar station in Kuwait with drones. Additionally, it attacked a communications system and a radar station of U.S. forces in Bahrain with suicide drones.
