US military strikes Iran over 'attempted' shipping attacks as tensions flare

US military strikes Iran over 'attempted' shipping attacks as tensions flare US forces launched strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, marking the second such operation in two days, as President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran of a potentially devastating counterattack. The strikes, carried out by the US military, targeted elements of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in retaliation for what the Pentagon claims were recent attempts by Iran to disrupt maritime traffic in the strategic waterway. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes followed reports that IRGC forces were preparing to deploy sea mines and launch rockets into the strait, actions that could threaten international shipping routes vital to global energy supplies. The US military confirmed the strikes occurred at approximately 1600 GMT on Tuesday, with CENTCOM describing the operation as "limited, precise" and aimed at neutralizing threats to regional security. The operation follows a similar strike on Monday against two rocket launchers on Larak Island, also in the Strait of Hormuz. The US claimed the launchers were being used to prepare for attacks involving sea mines, a move that Iran has previously denied. The latest strikes come amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, which have escalated over the past several months. President Donald Trump, speaking on his social media platform, warned that if Iran retaliates for the strikes, the US would respond with an even greater force. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the current strikes were "large and powerful" and that they were in direct response to Iran’s "failed attempt" to mine the Strait of Hormuz and launch missiles at a US military base in Jordan. All eight missiles fired toward the Jordanian base were reportedly intercepted, according to Trump. He also claimed that any vessels attempting to lay new mines in the strait would be destroyed, emphasizing the US commitment to protecting the free flow of commerce through the waterway. Iran responded swiftly to the US strikes, with Iranian state media reporting that the attacks resulted in casualties among Iranian personnel. The IRGC vowed a "response and punishment" to the US actions, while Iran itself announced that it had targeted US military installations in Jordan with ballistic missiles. Jordan’s military confirmed that it had intercepted all eight incoming projectiles. Additionally, Iranian state television reported that Iranian forces had launched drones toward an air base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE’s Ministry of Defence dismissed these claims as "unfounded" but confirmed that a drone had been shot down. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran does not seek war but emphasized that the country would deliver a "decisive response" to perceived aggression. The conflict has centered on the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial chokepoint for global oil transportation. The waterway, approximately 33 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, has become a focal point of the broader geopolitical struggle between the US and Iran. CENTCOM has repeatedly refuted claims by Iranian officials that a supertanker had struck mines in the strait, calling such assertions "disinformation" intended to intimidate commercial shipping. The latest developments mark a return to open military confrontations between the US and Iran, despite previous indications that the Trump administration might prioritize economic pressure over direct military engagement. The strikes have reignited fears of a wider regional conflict, particularly given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz to global trade. As tensions continue to rise, both nations remain locked in a delicate balance between deterrence and diplomacy, with the potential for further escalations looming.