The United States has carried out a new wave of military strikes against Iranian targets, intensifying the confrontation centred around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation began at 6 a.m. ET and was aimed at further degrading Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels transiting the strait.
CENTCOM confirmed that the latest strikes targeted military infrastructure directly tied to recent Iranian assaults on international shipping. The US military said the action “further degraded Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” following a series of Iranian attacks on cargo vessels that have disrupted global trade and heightened regional tensions.
One of the strikes hit a barracks belonging to Iran’s 388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Sistan and Baluchestan province, according to Iranian state media. The brigade operates tanks and armoured vehicles, and the attack reportedly involved at least 13 missiles. Iranian officials said seven soldiers, including conscripts and career personnel, were killed. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani later stated that more than 30 people have been killed in recent days across multiple strikes, though she did not provide further details.
The confrontation continues to centre on the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one‑fifth of global oil and natural gas trade passes. Iran blocked the strait early in the conflict, forcing the US to open an alternative passage near Oman, outside Tehran’s control, under an interim arrangement. Reopening the main channel has remained a major challenge for Washington.
The latest US strikes come amid a broader escalation involving Iran’s attacks on Gulf nations and American retaliatory operations. Analysts warn that the conflict risks expanding further if diplomatic efforts fail to stabilise the situation.