WANA (Jul 08) – The U.S. military early Wednesday confirmed that it had carried out a series of strikes against targets in southern Iran. Washington said the operation was launched in response to what it described as Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and accused Tehran of violating the ceasefire.

 

In a statement, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had launched multiple strikes against targets in Iran. According to the statement, the operation was a response to alleged Iranian attacks on three commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and was intended to impose costs on Tehran.

 

CENTCOM also accused Iran of carrying out what it called “unprovoked and dangerous” attacks that violated the ceasefire and threatened the security of international shipping in one of the world’s most important waterways. Iranian officials had not issued an official response to the allegations at the time of publication.

 

Meanwhile, Axios, citing a senior U.S. official, reported that the strikes carried out overnight were four to five times larger and more powerful than the U.S. strikes conducted roughly ten days earlier.

 

At the same time, local sources reported explosions in the southern Iranian cities of Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, and Sirik. No official details have yet been released regarding the targets of the strikes or the extent of any damage.