US strikes over 80 Iranian targets after Hormuz ship attacks

US strikes over 80 Iranian targets after Hormuz ship attacks

The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Iran after Tehran allegedly attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces struck more than 80 targets linked to Iran’s military infrastructure.

In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the operation targeted Iran’s air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 small boats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) near the Strait of Hormuz.

Axios reported that the latest U.S. strikes were four to five times larger than the attacks carried out ten days earlier, both in scale and intensity. A U.S. official told the Associated Press that the military operation could continue for several hours.

The strikes reportedly focused on air defense batteries, surface-to-air missile systems, coastal surveillance equipment, anti-ship cruise missile sites, port facilities, and drone launch centers.

Iranian media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Qeshm Island. According to Al Jazeera, residents heard at least six explosions on Qeshm Island, seven to nine in Sirik, and around ten in Bandar Abbas.

The attacks took place while large crowds gathered for the funeral ceremonies of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran strongly condemned the U.S. operation. Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters described the strikes as a clear act of aggression and said they occurred while the remains of the late Supreme Leader and others were being transported to Iraq.

Iran’s military warned that it would deliver a firm and decisive response. Officials also insisted that Iran would not allow outside interference in the management of the Strait of Hormuz and maintained that vessels should follow routes designated by Tehran for safe passage.

Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator with the United States, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, also criticized Washington’s actions. In a post on X, he accused the U.S. of violating previous understandings through military attacks, sanctions on Iran’s oil sector, threats of further action, and continued support for Israeli operations in Lebanon. He added that Iran would not yield to pressure.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi and Iran’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the strikes, calling them a breach of existing commitments. The ministry said the United States would bear full responsibility for the consequences of its actions.

Meanwhile, Iran rejected allegations that it carried out the attacks on the three ships in the Strait of Hormuz.