US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have carried out a new wave of retaliatory strikes against Iran, targeting more than 80 locations, including over 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) small boats operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The strikes were conducted on July 7 using precision-guided munitions in response to what Washington described as recent Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting the strategic maritime corridor.
According to CENTCOM, U.S. forces targeted a range of Iranian military assets, including air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar installations, and anti-ship missile capabilities. The operation was aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and disrupt freedom of navigation through one of the world’s most important trade routes.
The US military said the strikes followed attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz: the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Al Rekayyat, Saudi Arabia-flagged tanker Wedyan, and Liberia-flagged Cyprus Prosperity.
The command described the attacks on commercial shipping as an “unwarranted aggression” and a violation of the ceasefire, warning that such actions undermine international maritime security and freedom of navigation.
Watch video of strikes on Iranian small boats here
The strikes mark a breakdown of the ceasefire framework established under a US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 17, 2026. The agreement, brokered with the involvement of Pakistan, was intended to halt military operations and create a 60-day period for negotiations toward a broader settlement. It also included commitments related to restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran agreeing to facilitate the safe passage of commercial vessels through the waterway.
US President Donald Trump recently declared the memorandum “over” following renewed tensions and the collapse of diplomatic efforts.
To remind, the US forces launched Operation Epic Fury in February this year with the stated objective of degrading Iran’s military capabilities and targeting assets identified by Washington as posing a threat, including ballistic missile infrastructure, air defense systems, naval forces, anti-ship missile sites, and command and control networks.
CENTCOM said the operation targeted thousands of Iranian military facilities and assets, including naval vessels, missile sites, and military support infrastructure.