US launches third airstrike on Iran after Hormuz blockade threat

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Tuesday that it had launched a third airstrike against Iran, a move intended to degrade Iran's capacity to assault civilian and commercial ships.

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The United States is imposing significant costs on Iran by continuously weakening its ability to attack civilian and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM stated that the United States is imposing significant costs on Iran by continuously weakening its ability to attack civilian and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The command also reported that a Cypriot-flagged container ship, attacked by Iran, sustained severe engine damage, and one civilian crew member is missing.

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The Strait of Hormuz is completely blocked until further notice and until U.S. intervention in the region ends.

This latest U.S. strike comes shortly after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared a complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice and until U.S. intervention in the region ceases. The IRGC Navy asserted in a statement that it would firmly respond to foreign intervention and attempts to establish "illegal routes" through the strait, claiming that several vessels ignored warnings to alter their course.

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We will firmly respond to foreign intervention and attempts to establish 'illegal routes' through the strait.

The IRGC Navy further warned that no ships would be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as long as the U.S. presence continues, and any new attacks or violations would target "new enemy bases" in the region. This marks the third U.S. retaliatory strike against Iran, following earlier attacks on approximately 90 Iranian military facilities on January 8th and January 7th, which reportedly included industrial facilities like railway bridges.

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As long as the U.S. presence continues, no ships will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.