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US Strikes Target Iran's Strait of Hormuz Threat, Israel Hits Leadership Plane

U.S. Central Command head Brad Cooper stated operations are ongoing to degrade Iran's capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the critical Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has conducted thousands of missions, destroying naval assets including bunkers for mines and missiles on Kharg Island. Separately, the Israeli military destroyed an Airbus A340 at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport used to transport senior Iranian leaders like President Masoud Pezeshkian. Israel also struck targets in several Iranian cities as the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign entered its 17th day.

Key Points: US-Israel Campaign Hits Iran's Shipping Threat & Leadership Assets

  • US strikes target Iran's ability to threaten shipping
  • Over 100 Iranian naval vessels destroyed in 16 days
  • Israel destroys aircraft used by Iran's top leaders
  • Campaign disrupts global shipping and oil markets
  • Strikes hit multiple Iranian cities including Tehran
2 min read

US continues strikes to curb Iran's threat in Strait of Hormuz: Commander

US commander details strikes on Iran's naval capabilities in Strait of Hormuz as Israel destroys a leadership aircraft in Tehran, escalating regional campaign.

"We will continue to rapidly deplete Iran's ability to threaten the freedom of navigation - Brad Cooper"

Washington, March 16

The US forces are continuing operations to weaken Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, said Monday.

"We will continue to rapidly deplete Iran's ability to threaten the freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz," Cooper said in a video statement posted on X.

However, the Commander gave no details on how the United States would reopen the strait, the critical global energy waterway that Iran has effectively closed.

Cooper said Friday's US strikes on Kharg Island, Iran's oil export hub, destroyed more than 90 military targets, including storage bunkers for naval mines and missiles, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the past 16 days, US forces have carried out more than 6,000 combat missions, destroying over 100 Iranian naval vessels, while Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at targets in about 12 countries across the region, Cooper said.

The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on February 28, disrupting global shipping and resulting in soaring oil prices and a volatile global economy.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said Monday it had destroyed an aircraft used by Iran's top leadership at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, claiming the strike would hamper coordination between Tehran and its regional allies. Israel also said it carried out strikes on infrastructure in several Iranian cities.

In a statement, the IDF said the plane had served senior political and military figures for both domestic and international travel. The military added that eliminating the aircraft would disrupt communication between Iran's leadership and allied groups across the region, slow Tehran's military buildup, and limit its ability to restore damaged capabilities.

The aircraft was identified as an Airbus A340 previously used to transport senior leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and, in the past, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, to diplomatic engagements abroad. Iranian authorities did not immediately confirm the strike, Xinhua news agency reported.

Mehrabad Airport, located in western Tehran, is one of the capital's oldest aviation hubs. While Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport handles most long-haul international flights, Mehrabad remains the country's busiest domestic airport and also hosts military facilities, including units of the Iranian Air Force.

Separately, on Monday, the IDF said it struck targets in the Iranian cities of Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz, as the US-Israeli campaign against Iran entered its 17th day.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
While I understand the need to keep shipping lanes open, the scale of these strikes is alarming. 6000 missions in 16 days? It feels like a full-scale war. The human cost and environmental damage in the region must be catastrophic. The world needs diplomacy, not just more bombs.
A
Aman W
The US and Israel are taking a very strong stance. Iran has been a destabilizing force for a long time, supporting proxies. If this action secures the sea lanes, it's good for international trade, including India's exports and imports. Sometimes a firm hand is needed.
S
Sarah B
Striking an airport in the capital and cities like Shiraz... this is no longer just about the Strait. It's a direct attack on Iranian sovereignty. The article says the commander gave no details on how to reopen the strait. So what is the actual endgame here? More escalation?
V
Vikram M
Our government needs to navigate this very carefully. We have important relationships with both the US and the Gulf nations. Energy security is paramount. Hope our diplomats are working overtime to ensure our interests are protected and we have contingency plans for oil supply.
K
Karthik V
The focus should be on reopening the strait, not just "depleting Iran's ability". The global economy can't handle sustained high oil prices. Every day of closure hurts developing economies like ours the most. The US strategy seems more about punishment than a practical solution.

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