US Central Command confirms new strikes on Iran to address threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responds, UN calls for restraint.
Iranian state media reported explosions in the strait, specifically in Sirik, Qeshm Island, Jask, and areas west of Bandar Abbas; however, the governorate of Hormozgan announced that there have been no civilian casualties reported so far.
Sunday’s operation follows three previous rounds of strikes within the last week, part of a larger escalation that began on July 7. On Saturday night, CENTCOM reported hitting approximately 140 Iranian military targets, including facilities associated with drones, missiles, ammunition, surveillance, and naval operations. Iran responded with strikes targeting US military bases in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman.
This exchange has strained a memorandum of understanding established last month, which aimed to halt hostilities permanently and mandated Iran to exert “best efforts” to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial traffic. Prior to the conflict, the strait transported nearly a fifth of the globe’s oil and gas, and Washington views Iran’s recent drone attacks on tankers as breaches of that agreement.
CENTCOM identified the assault on the Cyprus-registered GFS Galaxy as a catalyst for Saturday’s escalated strikes, an incident that allegedly left a crew member missing. Iran claims to have once again closed the strait to traffic, while the US maintains that it remains open. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on both parties to exercise restraint, with the UN estimating around 6,000 sailors are stranded in the waterway due to the ongoing conflict.
Stay tuned for further updates on the latest developments in West Asia.
