United States launches second day of strikes following Strait of Hormuz aggression
Updated ,first published
Washington: As the ceasefire and interim peace agreement continues to erode following Iran’s renewed aggression in the Strait of Hormuz, the United States launched an attack on Iran for the second night in a row.
“Under the direction of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command forces have begun conducting additional strikes against Iran to further weaken their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” the U.S. military said.
“The United States holds Iran responsible for recent unwarranted attacks on commercial shipping and civilian crews traveling freely in a vital international waterway.”
The exact targets of the attacks late Wednesday night (Tehran time) were not immediately clear, but they followed attacks on Iran’s air defense systems, missile stockpiles, surveillance systems and drone launch sites the night before.
The United States and Gulf countries accused Iran of attacking three ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, including a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker and a Saudi Arabian-flagged crude oil tanker. Iran denied responsibility.
However, after the first reaction of the USA, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it attacked US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
The renewed violence represents the biggest threat to the already fragile ceasefire since the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran was signed in mid-June.
US President Donald Trump, in his speech at the NATO summit in Ankara, said that Türkiye predicted more attacks against Iran after Iran’s attempt to hit American bases.
“We knocked down 28 boats last night, little ones,” Trump told reporters on the sidelines of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Are we going to go? [again] tonight? Normally I wouldn’t tell you, but you know what? There’s nothing they can do about it… so the answer is ‘probably’. Because they deserve it.”
The new attacks began shortly after Trump left Türkiye to return to the United States via England. Air Force One was in the air when the attacks began.
The US president also talked about the potential of making a deal with Iran to end the war properly. “I don’t see that in them,” Trump said. “My whole life is about deals, I can’t see that with them.”
The 14-point Memorandum of Understanding signed in June was supposed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and begin a 60-day negotiation period for a final agreement, as well as maintain a ceasefire that began in April.
Trump has said he is considering reimposing the blockade, and US Central Command posted a video on social media on Wednesday (US time) showing the massive navy and air fleet still patrolling the region’s waterways and skies.
More to come
Take notes directly from our foreign country reporters about things that make headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What’s on in the World Newsletter.
Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political correspondent in Canberra.Connect with: X or email.
