The United States has initiated a new series of strikes against Iran, commencing in the early hours of the morning. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on social media that the fresh attacks began at 6 am with the objective of undermining Iranian military assets used in assaults on cargo ships navigating through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to CENTCOM, the strikes were launched at 6 a.m. ET to target Iranian military capabilities employed in attacking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The US has reimposed a naval blockade on Iran and escalated its airstrikes in response to Tehran’s actions against vessels passing through the strait. Iranian officials reported that the American strikes hit an Iranian army barracks, resulting in the death of at least seven troops and injuries to over 260 individuals across Iran.
Last month, the US lifted the blockade on Iran after initially imposing it in April. A temporary ceasefire agreement was signed between Iran and the US, pausing hostilities for a 60-day negotiation period to address issues like Iran’s nuclear program. However, talks stalled as tensions escalated over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran recently pulled out of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US citing ‘American violations.’ Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Minister for Legal and International Affairs, affirmed Iran’s determination to assert full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz regardless of the consequences.
The conflict reignited due to disputes over the administration of traffic in the strait. US President Donald Trump declared the end of the ceasefire during a NATO summit in Turkey, expressing his disdain towards further engagement with Iran. In response to the US closure of the strait, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard threatened to disrupt all energy exports from the Middle East, emphasizing a ‘for everyone or for no one’ stance.
The US conducted another round of strikes, targeting numerous locations over a span of seven hours, as confirmed by the military’s Central Command. One of the strikes hit a barracks housing Iran’s 388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Sistan and Baluchestan province, resulting in casualties. Iranian state television reported that the attack involved at least 13 missiles, causing fatalities and injuries among Iranian troops.
In the recent confrontations, more than 30 individuals have lost their lives, as per statements by Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani. Hossein Kermanpour, a spokesperson for the Health Ministry, disclosed that over 260 individuals sustained injuries in overnight strikes, marking a significant escalation in the violence between Iran and the US.
The Iranian army vowed to deliver a resolute response to the aggressive actions by the US, as reported by state TV.