U.S. Army Concludes Wave of Precision Strikes Against Iran

SadaNews - The U.S. Central Command "CENTCOM" announced the end of a new wave of strikes against Iran, targeting dozens of sites in multiple regions using precision munitions, as part of operations it said aimed at undermining Tehran's ability to continue targeting ships and international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM clarified that the strikes, carried out on July 12, targeted for the first time Iranian military air defense systems, alongside coastal radar sites, missile capabilities, drone launch platforms, and small boats.

U.S. fighter jets, warships, and one-way aerial and naval attack drones participated in the operations, indicating the expansion of the campaign and the diversity of media used in it.

The U.S. command emphasized that forces deployed in the region are in full readiness to ensure the continued freedom of navigation for commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Iran of continuing what it described as "unjustified aggression, harassment, and threats."

It added that Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the maritime corridor must remain open to international trade movement.

This new wave came after a mutual escalation between Washington and Tehran, which included targeting commercial ships in the strait and Iran announcing restrictions on transit routes, while the United States confirmed that navigation continues to be protected by its forces.

The U.S. military also announced in the past hours the interception of an Iranian cruise missile and a drone, after the Revolutionary Guard fired at commercial ships crossing the strait.

In contrast, Iran stated that the U.S. strikes had thwarted diplomatic efforts made over the past months, accusing Washington of violating the memorandum of understanding between the two sides and bringing tensions back to the Strait of Hormuz.

The strikes coincided with Iranian reports of explosions in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Jask, Sirik, Bushehr, and Khuzestan, where Iranian authorities announced one person killed and four others injured.

The escalation comes at a time when both sides are exchanging accusations regarding the disruption of international navigation, while concerns increase over the widening confrontation and its implications for energy supplies and global oil prices.