Newzmilitary is conducting strikes on Iranian targets in the area of the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Why it matters: The attacks are part of a plan President Trump and his senior aides have been considering in recent days to wage limited strikes in the Strait of Hormuz to prevent Iran from rebuilding the radar and missile capabilities it needs to attack ships. The plan was reported by Axios on Monday.One U.S.
official said the idea is to reduce the risk of Iranian attacks on oil tankers, U.S. Navy ships and Air Force aircraft — to "mow the lawn," as this person put it.State of play: According to Iranian media, the strikes hit targets along Iran's southern coast in the cities of Bandar Abbas, Jask, Chabahar, Konarak, Minab, Sirik and the island of Qeshm. What they're saying: "Today at 12 p.m.
forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran. The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region," CENTCOM said. Trump threatened a more severe response if Iran tries to hit back.
"If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack," he wrote on Truth Social shortly after news of the strikes, "they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!" announced Tuesday that it was striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran.According to U.S. Central Command, the strikes were in response to attempted attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and on U.S.
service members deployed to the region.This is the second time this week the U.S. has conducted strikes against Iran following a pause of about a month.On Monday, President Donald Trump called the initial strikes very limited but did not rule out further military action.This weeks actions mark a shift in the recent U.S. The Trump administration had been seeking to increase economic pressure on the country through new sanctions.RELATED STORY | US strikes Iran again as retaliation raises fears over gas prices, Strait of HormuzThe war has now passed the six-month mark, despite Trump initially saying it would be over within weeks.
went to war to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, though there has been disagreement over how close the country was to developing one.Eighteen U.S. service members have been killed in the war, while Iran has reported thousands of deaths among its military personnel.The conflict has also strained global fuel supplies. Before the war, about 20% of the worlds oil supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
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