US Strikes Over 80 Targets in Iran in Response to Attacks on Commercial Shipping

In a significant escalation, the United States launched a series of airstrikes targeting over 80 military sites across Iran, including missile launch facilities and drone bases, as a punitive measure against recent Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command confirmed the operation aimed to impose a heavy cost on Iran for its aggressive actions against three merchant ships carrying innocent civilian crews through an international shipping route.

The strikes occurred overnight and were followed by reports of multiple explosions on Iranian islands such as Qeshm and Kish, as well as near the port city of Sirik close to the Strait of Hormuz. Alarms were also triggered in Bahrain and Kuwait shortly after the attacks. Iranian officials condemned the US actions as "aggressive and crude," with a senior Iranian advisor, Mohsen Rezaei, warning that Iran is fully prepared for further US attacks. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf accused the US of violating a memorandum of understanding, citing ongoing threats, renewed oil sanctions, and attacks in southern Iran and Lebanon.

In response, Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz would remain open only to commercial vessels, excluding oil tankers for the time being. Iranian state media reported additional explosions on the islands and noted the return of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian from Iraq, where he had been attending the funeral procession of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the initial phase of the "Tiger Roar" operation.

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Ghesheh planned to visit Israel to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss the Iran situation and potential F-35 aircraft supplies to Turkey. A US official described the strikes as "punishment" rather than proportional retaliation, indicating the campaign would continue for some time.

This latest round of hostilities underscores the heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf region, with both sides signaling readiness for further confrontation while the international community watches closely.