Washington: The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Thursday that it has successfully executed a new wave of offensive strikes against Iran, marking the sixth consecutive night of operations aimed at dismantling Iranian military assets. This ongoing military campaign underscores heightened tensions between the US and Iran, particularly concerning the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
According to Anadolu Agency, the recent strikes targeted Iran's coastal surveillance systems, air defense sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities. CENTCOM emphasized that these actions are part of a broader strategy directed by the Commander in Chief to diminish Iranian military power and hold Tehran accountable for recent attacks on commercial shipping vessels.
CENTCOM further reported that over 50,000 US service members are actively deployed across the Middle East, maintaining a posture described as "vigilant, lethal, and ready." The backdrop to these military operations is a period of escalating hostilities between the US and Iran, despite a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding intended to defuse tensions and secure a lasting peace agreement.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt clarified the US position, stating that the recent strikes were a direct response to Iran's violation of the memorandum. She highlighted that the agreement explicitly prohibited Iran from targeting commercial vessels navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has allegedly breached.
In a related development, the US reintroduced a naval blockade on Tuesday, targeting vessels bound for or departing from Iranian ports and coastal zones. CENTCOM reported that US forces had intercepted three commercial vessels attempting to bypass the blockade, disabled one non-compliant ship, and boarded another to ensure adherence to the blockade.
Addressing the nation, President Donald Trump asserted that the US is achieving significant progress in its confrontations with Iran. He assured the public that the results of these efforts would soon be evident.
Meanwhile, Iran has accused the US of committing 'war crimes' by targeting civilian infrastructure during the strikes, arguing that such actions contravene international law and the United Nations Charter.