US military launches strikes against Iran, Central Command says

WASHINGTON, July 7 (Reuters) – The US military has launched a series of attacks against Iran, US Central Command said on Tuesday, stating that the attacks were in response to Iran’s attacks on three commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

“U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to target and impose heavy costs on attacking commercial shipping,” the U.S. military statement said. The statement was included.

In the statement, it was stated that “Iran’s aggression is unnecessary, dangerous and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”

It is unclear what specifically the US was targeting, but Iranian media said six bullets hit the Taheroui pier area in Sirik in southern Iran.

This marks the first known US military strike against Iran since late last month, when there were several days of attacks and counter-strikes between the two countries.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali, ​Phil Stewart, ​Ryan Patrick Jones, ​Ismail Shakil and ​Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Michelle Nichols and Sanjeev Miglani)