US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced early Monday morning that it began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran for the ninth consecutive night. The statement said the strikes were launched at 7:00 p.m. ET (2:00 a.m. Israel time). "The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz," said CENTCOM.
Iranian media outlets reported a wave of American strikes in the city of Tabriz, located in the northwestern part of the country. Concurrently, the Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that powerful blasts and multiple explosions were heard in Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini - two major, strategic port cities situated along the coast of the Persian Gulf in southwestern Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced later that it attacked two oil tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Iranian claims, the strike was executed after the vessels veered off course and failed to stick to the agreed-upon route set by Iranian authorities in the strait. In its statement, the IRGC issued a direct threat toward Washington, warning that the United States should expect "punishment" in response to its actions in the region. In an earlier statement, CENTCOM said that as of Sunday, it has redirected six commercial vessels and disabled one to ensure full compliance with the naval blockade against Iran. (Read more)
