American officials quickly condemned the attacks, calling them an unacceptable assault on international commerce and freedom of navigation.
“The unwarranted aggression by Iranian forces is a clear and dangerous violation of the ceasefire and undermines freedom of navigation.”
In response, CENTCOM launched an extensive military campaign aimed at significantly reducing Iran’s ability to carry out additional attacks against civilian shipping.
The U.S. military announced that precision-guided munitions were used to hit a wide range of Iranian military infrastructure. The operation targeted air defense systems, command and control facilities, coastal radar installations, anti-ship missile positions, and dozens of fast attack boats operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to CENTCOM, more than 60 IRGC small boats positioned in and around the Strait of Hormuz were destroyed or disabled during the strikes. Officials said the operation was carefully planned to weaken Iran’s capability to threaten international maritime traffic while minimizing unnecessary damage.
CENTCOM detailed the scope of the mission in its official statement:
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces completed a new round of offensive strikes against Iran, July 7, hitting over 80 targets with precision munitions as an immediate response to Iran’s latest attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”
The military continued:
“U.S. forces struck Iranian air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats in and near the strait to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking international commerce flowing through the international trade corridor.”
CENTCOM also identified the commercial vessels involved in the attacks.
“Iran recently attacked three commercial vessels transiting the strait including Marshall Islands-flagged M/T Al Rekayyat, Saudi Arabia-flagged M/T Wedyan, and Liberian-flagged M/T Cyprus Prosperity.”
The command emphasized that U.S. forces remain ready to respond should Iran continue violating the ceasefire.
“CENTCOM forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable when the agreement is not adhered to or obeyed.”
WATCH:
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with a significant percentage of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passing through its narrow waters each day. Any disruption in the region carries the potential to impact global energy markets and international trade, making security in the corridor a top priority for the United States and its allies.
The military action comes shortly after President Donald Trump announced additional economic measures against Tehran. Following the attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump revoked Iran’s oil sanctions waiver, increasing economic pressure alongside the administration’s military response.
The newly released combat footage provides the public with a rare glimpse into the scale and precision of the operation as U.S. forces continue efforts to deter further Iranian aggression. American officials have made clear that while the United States remains committed to protecting international shipping lanes, it is also prepared to respond forcefully should Tehran launch additional attacks against commercial vessels or violate the ceasefire again.
