US Central Command forces begin launching powerful strikes against Iran
Washington, July 8
US forces launched strikes against Iran on Tuesday after three commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz were attacked, the US Central Command said.
US forces "have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway," the command said in a post on X.
"The US strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz," said the command.
Explosions were heard near Iran's Qeshm Island and port cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Iranian state outlet Press TV.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations on Tuesday reported three separate attacks involving tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with no casualties reported in any of the incidents.
In the first incident, reported to UKMTO at 2119 UTC on Monday, a tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile on the port side, causing a fire, about 8 nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, while travelling southbound.
In the second incident, reported on Tuesday, a tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile and is believed to have sustained structural damage.
In the latest incident, reported to UKMTO at 1305 UTC on Tuesday, another tanker sustained minor structural damage. The vessel, which was hit by a drone, was continuing to its next port of call.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the identities of two of the three vessels have been confirmed: one is a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker, while the other is a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker.
Earlier in the day, the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted two tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz via a US-backed Omani route on Monday night after they failed to heed warnings, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, the timing is suspicious—US attacks while Iran targets shipping through Omani routes. It feels like a proxy war between superpowers, and we, the developing nations, are the ones who suffer. I hope diplomatic channels are still open because war in the Gulf is a nightmare for India's energy security. 🙏
The US is right to retaliate—Iran attacked civilian commercial shipping, not military targets. But this tit-for-tat cycle never ends well. Look at Afghanistan and Iraq: strikes don't bring peace, they just fuel more violence. India should push for a UN-led negotiation before this spirals.
As an Indian, I'm worried about our ships and sailors in the region. The Strait of Hormuz is a chokepoint for our trade, and if this escalates, we could see supply chain disruptions. The government must ensure safe passage for Indian-flagged vessels. Stay safe, everyone. 🇮🇳
I understand the need to protect innocent lives—three commercial ships attacked is no joke. But the US should have exhausted diplomatic options first. These "powerful strikes" will only strengthen hardliners in Iran and make things worse for everyone, including India which relies on stability in the Gulf.
This feels like a repeat of the 2019 attacks on Saudi oil facilities—everyone blames Iran, but no real evidence. Also, why are Saudi and Qatari tankers being protected by the US? It's obvious this is about controlling energy routes. India should build strategic reserves and diversify imports to avoid being caught in the crossfire. 😤
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.