Washington: The United States has launched another round of airstrikes against Iranian military targets amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) saying the operation was aimed at degrading capabilities that threaten commercial shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM said US naval and air operations in the Arabian Sea remain ongoing and that seven commercial vessels were diverted for security reasons. It added that the latest strikes marked the ninth consecutive day of attacks on Iranian military installations.
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported explosions in several cities across southern and central Iran. Air defence systems were activated in Bushehr, while explosions were also reported in Shiraz and Isfahan, according to local reports.
In a separate development, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had launched missile and drone attacks targeting US military bases in Jordan and Kuwait. However, the claims could not be independently verified.
The latest exchanges have further heightened tensions across the Middle East, raising concerns over the security of key shipping routes and the possibility of a wider regional conflict as governments around the world closely monitor the rapidly evolving situation.
