US Strikes 140 Targets in Iran After Vessel Attack in Strait of Hormuz

US Central Command launched a new wave of airstrikes on 140 military targets across southern Iran, including sites in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Chabahar and Bushehr, after Iranian forces attacked a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation follows Iran strikes on merchant shipping that prompted the US response and further Iranian retaliation across the region.

US Launches Renewed Strikes on Iranian Targets

United States military forces launched airstrikes targeting 140 locations across southern Iran. The strikes, which targeted military installations, air defense systems, and port facilities, resulted in significant destruction in areas including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Chabahar, and Bushehr. [2] US Central Command announced that American forces have initiated strikes against Iran in the early morning hours of Monday. [4] CENTCOM stated the action was to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships. [2] A CENTCOM spokesperson told CNN that US aircraft had so far successfully shot down an Iranian cruise missile and a one-way attack drone. [4] Centcom announced that US forces hit 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday, and more than 300 over three nights of strikes this week to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels freely transiting the strait. [5] The US Central Command asserted that the strait remains an international waterway with traffic continuing to flow. [2]

Iranian Attack on Merchant Vessel Triggers Escalation

Early yesterday, Iranian forces attacked a commercial vessel, the Cyprus-registered GFS Galaxy, which was situated approximately nine nautical miles off the coast of Oman. [2] The attack left the vessel with extensive damage, including to its engine room. Ten Indian crew members were rescued following the incident, but one Indian sailor remains missing. [2] India’s Ministry of External Affairs has condemned the attack on the civilian ship, emphasizing the need for an immediate de-escalation of tensions. [2] Iran defended its actions, alleging that the vessel had deviated from recognized maritime routes and had ignored multiple warnings. [2] A second, unnamed vessel was also targeted by Iran, though no casualties were reported in that instance. [2] Iran said it closed the strait after firing a warning shot that struck a vessel travelling on an “unauthorised route.” [5] Iran later said it had disabled a second vessel. [5]

Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz and Launches Retaliatory Barrage

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement declaring that ships attempting to bypass them would be treated as hostile targets and engaged accordingly. [2] Iran has asserted its control over the waterway and has signaled intentions to potentially levy charges on passing vessels in the future. [2] In a decisive counter-offensive, the conflict expanded further as Iran launched a retaliatory wave of drones and ballistic missiles targeting US bases and radar networks across Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. [2] The IRGC said it had destroyed a command-and-control centre and drone hangars in US ally Jordan, targeted a US radar site in Kuwait, attacked US aircraft carrier support and refuelling platforms in Oman, and destroyed a jet maintenance centre and command facility in Qatar. [5] The strait will remain closed until “the end of US interference in this region,” the Revolutionary Guards said. [5] However, the US Central Command claimed that commercial vessels continue to transit through the waterway. [5]

Impact on Gulf States and Reported Casualties

While US defenses intercepted many of the incoming projectiles, falling debris caused damage to the US naval logistics center at the Duqm port in Oman. [2] Additionally, three individuals, including a child, sustained injuries in Doha, Qatar. [2] Qatar said three people, including a child, had been injured by falling shrapnel. [5] It said Iran was “fully legally responsible” for the attack. [5] The UAE said it detected missile threats outside its borders, Bahrain said it intercepted several Iranian aerial attacks, Jordan reported missile strikes, and Oman reported being targeted with drones. [5] Oman said it had summoned Iran’s ambassador to protest over drone attacks in two regions and the US embassy in Oman told its nationals in Duqm and Musandam to shelter in place. [5] Oman has summoned the Iranian ambassador to formally register its protest. [2]

Collapse of June Ceasefire Agreement

The ongoing hostility marks a deepening of the conflict that began on February 28, initially centered on disputes regarding Iran’s nuclear program before shifting to the strategic control of the Strait of Hormuz. [2] This new escalation comes after the president of the US, Donald Trump, gave notice days ago that the agreement both countries reached on June 17 to end the war, reopen the strait and open negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program was over. [3] The renewed violence casts further doubt on the future of an interim US-Iranian agreement signed on June 18 that aimed to reopen the strait and end the war after a further 60 days of negotiations. [5] In the past week, US President Donald Trump has said he considers the ceasefire over, while leaving the door open to more talks. [5] The war that began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28 has destabilised the Gulf. [5]

Official Statements and Ongoing Developments

CENTCOM stated the action was to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships, while asserting that the strait remains an international waterway with traffic continuing to flow. [2] US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of further repercussions, stating that Iran would face the consequences for its decisions. [2] The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement declaring that ships attempting to bypass them would be treated as hostile targets and engaged accordingly. [2] Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on X: “The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking.” [5] A day earlier, a written statement from Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, threatened vengeance for the assassination of his predecessor and father in the war’s initial attacks. [5] Talks in Oman on Saturday between Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi were aimed at coordinating arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz. [5]

What to watch next: Talks between Iran and Oman are set to continue with a Qatari presence, while the US has revoked the licence authorising the sale of Iranian crude after Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under fire.