US Launches Strikes on Iranian Military Targets in Strait of Hormuz

WASHINGTON, July 8: The United States military is carrying out strikes against Iranian military targets in the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing a US official.

According to the report, the strikes are targeting Iranian military positions in and around the strategically vital waterway, one of the world's busiest oil shipping routes.

No further details were immediately available regarding the scope of the operation, the specific targets or any reported damage or casualties.

The reported strikes come amid rapidly escalating hostilities between Washington and Tehran following recent US attacks on Iranian military infrastructure and Iran's retaliatory missile and drone attacks on US military facilities and commercial shipping in the Gulf.

US Central Command said it had begun additional strikes against Iran on the orders of President Donald Trump, saying the operation was aimed at degrading Tehran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM said the United States was holding Iran accountable for what it called “recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews” navigating the vital waterway.

The statement comes after a series of attacks on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments.