"At 7:15 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching the third round of strikes this week against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces blatantly attacked M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz", CENTCOM said in a statement. It added that one civilian crew member was missing and that the vessel could not continue its voyage due to an onboard fire and severe engine room damage.
Britain's UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said it received a report overnight of an incident nine nautical miles off Oman's coast. Military officials said the ship's stern hull was damaged, triggering the fire.
"Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed", CENTCOM said, adding that it would continue operations to curb Iran's ability to target civilian sailors and commercial ships transiting the strait, on the order of President Donald Trump.
"Iran made the wrong choice. Now they’re paying for it", Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on social media.
U.S. strikes targeted Iranian air and ground surveillance radars, missile and drone storage sites, launch positions, and surface-to-air missile launchers, a U.S. official told Axios. CENTCOM said this was the third U.S. strike on Iran this week, following attacks overnight Tuesday-Wednesday and Wednesday-Thursday, each described by the military as retaliation for Iranian attacks on commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait, a critical corridor for oil and gas exports from the Persian Gulf, has become one of the most acute flashpoints between Washington and Tehran. The two countries have been at war since late February, with a fragile ceasefire in place since April 8 that has been repeatedly broken by exchanges of fire.
Tensions escalate despite ceasefire deal
U.S. officials said Friday that Washington had demanded Iran publicly declare the Strait of Hormuz open and pledge not to attack ships, with Axios reporting the U.S. wanted that declaration by Saturday. Instead, the IRGC struck the vessel and said the strait "remains closed until further notice." Iranian media, citing the IRGC, said a warning shot was fired at the ship because it had attempted to use an unauthorized route; Tehran has sought to control passage through Hormuz by requiring vessels to use routes it designates.
Trump threatened further strikes Saturday morning, warning on social media that if Iran attempted to assassinate him, the country would face a year of systematic attacks until it was completely destroyed — a reference to earlier reports of an alleged Iranian plot against him.
The U.S. and Iran signed a preliminary agreement on June 17 to establish a ceasefire in the war that began February 28, under which the two sides were to negotiate a final peace deal within 60 days. Tensions have flared again over the past week, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement.
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Source: PAP, Polish Radio