US Completes Tenth Night of Strikes on Iranian Military Targets Amid Rising Tensions

The US Central Command announced early Tuesday the completion of a tenth consecutive night of airstrikes targeting Iranian military sites. These strikes are part of a broad operation aimed at degrading Iran's military capabilities, including command centers, naval assets, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems. The stated objective is to hinder Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping passing through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

The Pentagon emphasized the importance of the Strait of Hormuz for global trade, noting that since early May, US forces have facilitated the safe passage of approximately 900 commercial vessels carrying 450 million barrels of crude oil. Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards reported that two oil tankers caught fire after explosions while attempting to navigate the southern route of the Strait. Iran accused the US military of providing misleading guidance that led the ships into unsafe, unauthorized waters and warned shipping companies against trusting US information.

This escalation follows a stern warning from former US President Donald Trump, who vowed severe retaliation for any American soldier killed by Iran, after two US soldiers died in an Iranian missile attack on a base in Jordan. Concurrently, Israeli intelligence reports that Iran has secretly transferred thousands of centrifuges to an underground uranium enrichment facility at Mount Karkas, raising concerns about Tehran's ongoing nuclear program despite the recent US strikes.