DUBAI—The United States launched a tenth consecutive night of strikes against Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday, as Washington pressed its campaign to reduce Tehran's ability to threaten commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.
CENTCOM said the latest operation targeted Iranian military command centers, missile and drone launch sites, maritime capabilities and air defense systems. The military said the strikes were intended to further degrade Iran's capacity to conduct attacks against vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy exports.
Iranian authorities acknowledged explosions in parts of southern Iran, while state-affiliated media reported activity around military facilities. Iranian officials have previously condemned the U.S. campaign as a violation of the country's sovereignty and said Tehran would continue responding to what it describes as aggression. Independent verification of battlefield claims from either side remained limited.
The latest strikes followed days of escalating exchanges between Washington and Tehran after an earlier diplomatic understanding broke down. U.S. officials have said the operations are focused on military assets linked to attacks on international shipping and U.S. interests in the Gulf region.
The conflict has increasingly centered on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world's seaborne oil exports passes. Maritime security concerns have intensified after reported attacks involving commercial vessels in and around the waterway. Shipping companies and governments have continued monitoring the situation amid fears of further disruption to regional trade.
The Pentagon has not announced a change in the broader objectives of the campaign, while U.S. officials have continued to say they remain open to a diplomatic resolution if Iran halts attacks threatening international navigation. Iranian officials, meanwhile, have maintained that the country will defend its interests and reject external pressure.
No updated casualty figures from the latest round of strikes were immediately released by either side. The military situation remained fluid on Tuesday, with both Washington and Tehran continuing military operations while diplomatic contacts aimed at reducing tensions were reported to be ongoing.
