The United States military launched fresh strikes against Iran on Wednesday, following an Iranian attack on ships in the Strait of Hormuz the previous day. US Central Command announced the operation through its verified X account on Wednesday.
The strikes came hours after President Donald Trump warned of escalating military action, claiming the Iranian attacks had brought an end to any ceasefire between the two nations.
"At the direction of the Commander in Chief, the US Central Command forces have started conducting additional strikes against Iran to further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said in the statement.
The military command accused Iran of launching "unjustified aggression" against commercial shipping and the crews operating vessels through the critical waterway. "The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway," CENTCOM wrote.
The move marked an intensification of tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the American government doubling down on its show of military strength in the region. Trump's threat to strike harder underscored the administration's determination to enforce its interests in one of the world's most strategically important sea lanes.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint for US-Iran hostilities, with both sides accusing each other of destabilising activities in the Persian Gulf.
