U.S. Central Command announced last night a third round of strikes against Iran “holding Iranian forces accountable for attacking another commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz.” It reported that “U.S. forces hit approximately 140 Iranian military targets with precision munitions launched by land- and sea-based fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels. Targets included Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks, and coastal surveillance locations.”
The U.S. strikes followed an Iranian attack on the container vessel M/V GFS Galaxy, which the IRGC said was using an illegal shipping channel with its transponder turned off, “thereby endangering maritime security,” and “was fired upon and stopped by the IRGC Navy.”
“In a previous announcement, we stated that foreign interference and the illegal designation of a shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman would elicit a firm response from us and would prevent any increase in traffic through the strait,” the IRGC statement said. “Hours ago, these warnings were once again ignored. Instigated by foreign powers, several vessels attempted to deviate from the Iranian-designated route, disregarding our repeated warnings and alerts to correct their course and remain within the approved route.”
Therefore, “due to this security breach resulting from illegal foreign interference, the Strait of Hormuz will be temporarily closed until further notice and until the U.S. ceases its interference in this region. No vessel will be permitted to pass through,” it said. “Secondly, should the aggressor, exploiting this incident (which it itself caused), commit any further transgressions, we shall respond forcefully, and additional enemy bases in the region will be targeted.”
