The United States military on Sunday launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on targets in Iran, saying the operation was aimed at degrading Tehran’s capability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes were ordered by President Donald Trump and commenced at about 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
According to CENTCOM, the operation targeted Iranian air defence systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, as well as small military boats.
It said U.S. fighter aircraft, naval vessels and one-way attack aerial and sea drones were deployed during the operation.
The military command said dozens of targets at multiple locations were struck with precision-guided munitions.
The operation, it added, was intended to ensure freedom of navigation for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
“U.S. forces are postured and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available to commercial shipping despite Iran’s continued aggression, harassment, threats and arbitrary declarations,” CENTCOM said.
Iranian state media reported that the strikes hit locations in several northern and southern provinces, with at least one person killed and several others injured.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly launched retaliatory attacks on U.S. military facilities in several Middle Eastern countries.
Iranian media reported strikes on U.S. military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain, alleging damage to military infrastructure, including fuel storage facilities, air defence systems and aircraft support facilities.
The reports also claimed attacks targeted U.S. military assets in Jordan, Oman and Qatar, while missile interceptions were reported in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. had earlier carried out extensive strikes on Iranian military infrastructure following an attack on a commercial vessel and heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump maintained that the strategic waterway remained open to international shipping despite Iran’s earlier warnings of restrictions.
The latest escalation has heightened concerns over regional security and the future of ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing hostilities between the two countries.
The claims by both sides regarding the extent of damage inflicted during the exchanges have not been independently verified.
