The United States launched a new wave of military strikes against Iran overnight into Wednesday. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the airstrikes were carried out in direct response to Iranian attacks on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington accuses Tehran of violating the ceasefire agreed only a few weeks ago.
In an official statement, CENTCOM said US forces had carried out “a series of powerful strikes” to impose “severe costs” on the Iranian regime for attacking commercial vessels with civilian crews in an international waterway. The Iranian attacks were described as “unprovoked, dangerous and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”
U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway. The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 7, 2026
According to the US military, more than 80 targets were struck. These included air-defense systems, command-and-control centers, coastal radar installations, anti-ship capabilities and more than 60 fast-attack boats belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. CENTCOM said the strikes were intended to limit Iran’s ability to continue attacking international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The American response was triggered by several attacks on commercial vessels within a 24-hour period. According to US officials, three merchant ships were attacked while transiting the strait. The British maritime security agency United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that at least one tanker was hit by a projectile and caught fire.
Iran rejects the allegations. The leadership in Tehran condemned the US airstrikes as a violation of Iranian sovereignty and threatened a “devastating response.” At the same time, Washington followed through on its announcement and revoked a previously granted exemption allowing Iran limited oil exports.
The latest strikes are the first confirmed US military action against Iran since the ceasefire agreement that followed the Iran war. The new airstrikes have once again placed that agreement under significant pressure. While Washington says it will not tolerate further attacks on international shipping, Tehran has announced retaliatory measures. It remains unclear whether the military escalation will end there or intensify further.
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