The U.S. military said late on Thursday that it had concluded another set of strikes on Iran, noting this was the 13th consecutive night of American operations. In a statement, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) described the latest action as lasting more than two hours.
CENTCOM said the strikes focused on a range of Iranian assets, including military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites and maritime capabilities. CENTCOM said the aim was to further reduce the threat Iran poses to civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
"CENTCOM targeted Iranian military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites and maritime capabilities to further diminish the threat Iran poses to civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz," the command said.
President Donald Trump vowed "major military punishment" for Iran and its Houthi allies on Thursday after Yemeni fighters struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, an action the administration said extended the conflict into a second major shipping chokepoint. Separately, Tehran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement and related comments sit against a backdrop of sustained hostilities. The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28. Tehran has carried out strikes on Israel and on Gulf states that host U.S. bases in response. U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, and Israeli attacks on Lebanon, have since killed thousands and displaced millions, CENTCOM and public statements indicate.
President Trump has also threatened to strike Iranian energy facilities and bridges. Iran has countered that, if such threats were executed, its forces would target regional oil, gas, electricity and other economic infrastructure.
International humanitarian law is a stated concern in the current dispute. The 1949 Geneva Conventions prohibit attacks on sites regarded as essential for civilian life. International law experts in the U.S. have said such attacks could amount to war crimes, a point raised publicly in April after earlier threats from President Trump. That same month, Trump's remark threatening to destroy Iran's entire civilization prompted broad condemnation.
Public statements from military and political officials continue to outline the targets and rationale for U.S. action while underscoring the wider regional implications for shipping and energy infrastructure.
Key developments
- U.S. military reports completion of a more-than-two-hour strike operation on Iran, the 13th straight night of strikes.
- CENTCOM listed targeted sites as command centers, drone storage, communications, coastal surveillance and maritime capabilities.
- President Trump pledged "major military punishment" after Houthi strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea; Tehran has also blocked the Strait of Hormuz.