Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Jul 12: The United States on Saturday launched a third round of military strikes against Iran after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly attacked a Cyprus-flagged commercial container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the US military.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation began at 7:15 p.m. Eastern Time (4:45 a.m. IST on Sunday) and was carried out under the orders of President Donald Trump in his role as Commander-in-Chief.
According to CENTCOM, the latest military action was triggered by an alleged attack on the M/V GFS Galaxy, a commercial container vessel transiting the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, CENTCOM said the IRGC had targeted the Cyprus-flagged ship, prompting the United States to initiate another series of strikes against Iran.
The US military did not disclose the locations targeted in the operation or provide details regarding the weapons or military assets involved.
CENTCOM said one civilian crew member remains missing following the attack on the vessel. The ship also sustained extensive damage, including a fire in the engine room, leaving it unable to continue its voyage. The identity and nationality of the missing crew member have not been released.
The US military further stated that the latest operation followed what it described as Iran's failure to comply with the terms of an existing Memorandum of Understanding concerning maritime security.
According to CENTCOM, Tehran had previously been given additional opportunities to demonstrate compliance after earlier incidents involving attacks on commercial shipping but had failed to do so.
The command said the objective of the latest strikes was to reduce Iran's capability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels navigating through the Strait of Hormuz.
It added that the operation was intended to impose costs on Iran by degrading its ability to carry out attacks against international shipping and reiterated that the strikes were conducted under the direction of President Donald Trump.