US Launches Seven-Hour Airstrikes on Iran Amid Hormuz Strait Tensions

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced early Wednesday that it completed a seven-hour round of airstrikes targeting dozens of Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran's coastline. The strikes began at 10 p.m. Eastern Time and involved precision munitions launched from American fighter jets, drones, and naval vessels aimed at missile sites, drone capabilities, naval assets, and coastal defense systems. The operation's stated goal was to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews in the strategic waterway.

Simultaneously, CENTCOM officially renewed a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, effective from 4 p.m. Eastern Time, deploying over 20 U.S. Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft across the Middle East. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper accused Iran of deliberately targeting civilians in the region and disclosed that Iranian forces attacked seven commercial vessels in the past week. The U.S. strikes are a direct response to Iran's ongoing hostile actions against international shipping.

In retaliation, Iran claimed early Wednesday to have launched a wave of unmanned aerial vehicles against U.S. military facilities at the Al-Azraq Air Base in northeastern Jordan. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened Washington, declaring the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed to shipping and oil exports as long as American aggression continues. The IRGC blamed U.S. military interventions in international waterways for destabilizing the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned in a Fox News interview that if Iran does not engage in serious negotiations, American strikes will intensify and target critical infrastructure such as power plants and bridges across Iran. Trump stated, "We are going to hit them very hard tonight, tomorrow night, and the night after," adding that next week would see significant damage to Iran's infrastructure unless they come to the negotiating table.

Amid these escalating tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly planning a visit to Washington early next week to meet with President Trump. Their upcoming discussions are expected to focus on recent developments in Iran and broader Middle East security issues. Netanyahu and Trump had previously agreed to meet following their recent phone conversation during the U.S. 250th Independence Day celebrations.