WASHINGTON: The United States military has launched a new round of strikes against Iran, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), as regional tensions over the strategic Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate .
In a social media post, CENTCOM confirmed that U.S. forces began the strikes at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday. The operation is intended to “degrade their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz” . This marks the fourth round of U.S. strikes against Iranian targets this week .
The U.S. commander-in-chief ordered the strikes to hold Iranian forces accountable for their actions, according to the CENTCOM statement .
The escalating military action follows a series of tit-for-tat exchanges triggered by Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the waterway . The U.S. has conducted daily strikes since Tuesday, reportedly targeting over 140 Iranian military assets, including missile and drone launch sites, naval equipment, and coastal surveillance stations . In response to the previous U.S. strikes on Saturday, Iran launched attacks against American targets in the Middle East .
According to Iranian media, multiple explosions were heard in the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas and the Sirik region, among other locations . The situation on the ground remains tense, as both superpowers appear locked in a cycle of retaliation over control and navigation rights in the strait, a vital global chokepoint for oil shipments .
