US Launches Third Round of Strikes Targeting 140 Iranian Military Sites

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) declared on Sunday the conclusion of a third series of strikes against Iranian targets, aiming to hold Iranian forces accountable for attacking another commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM reported that US forces targeted approximately 140 Iranian military sites using precision munitions launched from fighter jets, drones, and naval vessels.

The targeted locations included missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition depots, communication networks, and coastal surveillance positions.

In total, the US military stated that over three nights of strikes this week, more than 300 military sites were targeted to undermine Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM added that commercial vessel traffic through this vital international maritime corridor continues uninterrupted.

Since early May, US forces have assisted in the safe passage of over 800 commercial ships and the transport of more than 400 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM noted.

Earlier on Sunday, CENTCOM announced the start of this third round of strikes in retaliation for an attack by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on a Cyprus-flagged container ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The command stated that the Revolutionary Guard’s forces brazenly attacked the container ship GFS Galaxy during its transit, resulting in the death of one civilian crew member, a fire onboard, and severe damage to the engine room that disabled the vessel from continuing its voyage.

Commenting on CENTCOM’s statement, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on the platform X, "Iran made a bad choice, and now they are paying the price."

Earlier Sunday, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to navigation until further notice after it claimed to have stopped a ship by firing warning shots when the vessel attempted to pass through an unauthorized route.

According to the Tasnim news agency, the Revolutionary Guard Navy reported that several ships tried to navigate through unauthorized paths and did not respond to warnings and instructions to correct their course and comply with the designated route.

It added that one ship turned off its systems, endangering maritime security, and was subjected to warning fire that caused damage and forced it to stop.