US Launches Third Strike on Iran After Revolutionary Guards Attack Ship in Strait of Hormuz

Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated sharply overnight as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced a third round of strikes against Iranian targets this week. The military action followed an attack by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the Cypriot-registered container ship M/V GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz. The ship caught fire and sustained significant engine room damage, rendering it unable to continue its voyage, with one civilian crew member reported missing.

CENTCOM stated the strikes began at 19:15 Eastern Time and emphasized that Iran had failed to comply with a memorandum of understanding aimed at ensuring maritime security. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth condemned Iran's actions on social media, saying, "Iran made a bad decision. Now they are paying." The Trump administration had issued Iran an ultimatum to publicly commit to ceasing attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait by the end of Saturday, warning of severe military consequences if ignored.

In response to the incident, the IRGC declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice. They reported firing warning shots at vessels allegedly violating Iran's designated shipping lanes, including one ship that disabled its systems, prompting the warning fire. The IRGC warned that any US or Israeli military response would provoke harsh retaliation against American bases in the region.

Following the US strikes, missile and drone alerts were activated in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, with UAE air defenses reportedly intercepting threats launched from Iranian territory. The crisis intensified after President Trump declared an end to the ceasefire agreement signed three weeks earlier, citing Iran's failure to uphold maritime freedom commitments.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Oman to seek a diplomatic resolution, but the IRGC's official closure of the strategic shipping route suggests Tehran is opting for escalation. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-third of the world's oil supply passes, is expected to significantly impact global energy prices and Gulf economies. This marks the first official IRGC announcement of the closure, beyond previous verbal threats.