US launches new wave of strikes against Iran aimed at ‘degrading’ military

The United States has initiated another series of early-morning strikes targeting Iran, escalating the ongoing conflict over control of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command announced that these latest actions are designed to degrade Iran's ability to launch attacks against civilian mariners and commercial vessels.

These strikes, authorized by President Donald Trump, are part of a new wave of escalation that began on July 7. The U.S. reported striking approximately 140 Iranian military targets in the past week, including sites related to drones, missiles, and naval operations. Iran has retaliated with counterattacks on U.S. military installations across the Middle East.

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At 5 p.m. ET today [21:00 GMT], U.S. Central Command forces began launching more strikes against Iran to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The exchange of fire raises serious questions about a recent memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, which was intended to bring all hostilities to an "immediate and permanent" halt and serve as a basis for future negotiations. A key point of contention has been the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil and natural gas transport.

Under the memorandum, Iran was expected to facilitate commercial traffic through the Strait for 60 days without fees and engage in dialogue with Oman, another bordering country, to define future administration of the waterway. However, Iran's recent actions, including drone attacks on ships in the strait, have undermined these agreements and contributed to a significant rise in global fuel prices since the war began in February.

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The Commander in Chief has directed the strikes to hold Iranian forces accountable.