U.S. Forces Conduct Strikes on Iranian Targets
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that American forces initiated strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) positions in Iran. This action was taken following “attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” according to their statement.
“At approximately 12 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began targeting IRGC sites in Iran,” CENTCOM noted in a post on social media. “These strikes are a response to recent attempts by the IRGC to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as threats to American troops deployed in the area.”
The announcement from CENTCOM arrives amid reports that these attacks are part of a strategy being discussed by President Trump and his top advisors to carry out limited strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. This plan aims to inhibit Iran’s efforts to restore its radar and missile capabilities, which could be used to target ships, as reported by Axios.
A U.S. official conveyed that the intention is to lower the risk of attacks not only on oil tankers but also against “U.S. Navy vessels and Air Force aircraft.”
President Trump later acknowledged the U.S. strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz in a post on Truth Social. He stated that these strikes were “significant and forceful,” serving as retaliation for Iran’s unsuccessful attempt to place sea mines in the Strait.
“The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote. He emphasized that the strikes are powerful and were initiated in response to the Iranians’ failed efforts to lay mines, mentioning that the Strait is currently free of mines, which have all been either removed or detonated. He also referred to past incidents where Iran launched eight missiles at a U.S. military base in Jordan, all of which were successfully intercepted.
In related news, Trump indicated on Monday that he had dismissed the idea of employing a nuclear weapon against Iran, expressing skepticism toward such a drastic measure given that he believes they are already “totally defeated militarily.”
Furthermore, reports have detailed an escalating exchange of strikes between the U.S. and Iran, wherein the IRGC has aimed ballistic missiles and drones at two U.S.-operated air bases in Jordan. This targeting was a reprisal for earlier U.S. strikes on Iranian launch sites on Larak Island, where IRGC forces were reportedly getting ready to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
