The US Central Command announced, on Monday evening, the launch of a new round of intensified air attacks against targets inside Iranian territory, for the third consecutive day. These direct military operations come based on explicit instructions from President Donald Trump, amid unprecedented tension in the region following the collapse of previous understandings between the two parties.
The US President confirmed in preemptive statements that the armed forces would carry out strong and decisive strikes against Iranian facilities in the coming hours. Trump justified this escalation by accusing Tehran of reneging on its commitments contained in the recently concluded memorandum of understanding, stressing that the United States would not tolerate protecting its interests and the security of international navigation.
For its part, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard took a major escalatory step by announcing the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz to maritime navigation until further notice. This decision came after a night that witnessed a violent exchange of shelling between Washington and Tehran, which threatened to halt global energy supplies passing through this strategic waterway.
US military sources explained that the strikes, which began at 4:45 PM Eastern Time, accurately targeted military infrastructure. The targets included surveillance and monitoring systems, drone launch platforms, in addition to missile capability depots used by Tehran in its naval operations.
In contrast, local media in Iran reported violent explosions shaking Kish Island, located in the Arabian Gulf south of the country. This coincided with the Revolutionary Guard's announcement of the success of its air defenses in intercepting and shooting down a US 'MQ-1' drone that was flying in the region's airspace, reflecting the extent of the direct field engagement.
On the political front, Trump used his 'Truth Social' platform to announce the re-imposition of a comprehensive naval blockade on Iran, affirming that the Strait of Hormuz would remain accessible to all international vessels. The US decision excluded Iranian vessels or those belonging to entities cooperating with Tehran, in an attempt to tighten the economic and military noose on the Iranian regime.
Washington claims that these attacks come in self-defense and as a deterrent to Iranian movements that targeted commercial vessels in international waterways. The US administration believes that undermining Iranian military capabilities is the only way to ensure the safety of global trade and prevent continuous attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a counter-reaction, Iranian forces launched shelling operations targeting what they described as military facilities belonging to the US army located in the territories of neighboring Arab countries. These attacks, according to reports from those countries, resulted in civilian casualties and caused severe damage to some vital non-military facilities.
Ibrahim Zulfiqari, spokesman for the 'Khatam al-Anbiya' central headquarters, stressed that his country would not allow any American interference in the affairs of the Strait of Hormuz under any circumstances. Zulfiqari warned that the Iranian armed forces would deal firmly with any vessel attempting to cross the strait without prior approval or adherence to the routes specified by Tehran.
Field data indicate that the region has entered a dark tunnel of open confrontations, as Tehran considered the recent military operations as evidence of its readiness for confrontation. With the continuation of US air strikes, international circles are awaiting the extent of the parties' ability to contain the situation before it slides into a comprehensive regional war.
These strikes will continue to inflict heavy losses on Iranian forces and undermine their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
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For the third day.. Washington intensifies its air strikes against military targets in Iran