By Paul Joseph
The United States military on Tuesday carried out what it described as powerful airstrikes against targets in Iran, saying the operation was in retaliation for attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement posted on X, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes were aimed at imposing “heavy costs” on Iran following what it described as attacks on international maritime traffic in one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
According to CENTCOM, the military action was launched after three commercial ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz came under attack, an incident Washington blamed on Iranian forces.
The command also accused Tehran of breaching a ceasefire that reportedly came into effect on April 8, describing the alleged attacks on commercial shipping as “unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation” of the truce.
Despite the ceasefire, tensions have remained high in the Gulf region, with recurring reports of attacks on merchant vessels and retaliatory military operations involving regional and international forces.
Tuesday’s operation marks the first publicly announced US strike on Iran since a series of air raids carried out late last month, which Washington also said were launched in response to threats against commercial shipping linked to Iranian-backed forces.
The latest military escalation has renewed concerns over security in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a substantial share of the world’s crude oil exports and global energy supplies passes.
The development is expected to heighten geopolitical tensions and could have significant implications for international shipping, global oil markets and regional stability.
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