Washington, DC – The US has expanded its military operations against Iran, targeting small boats belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps at two locations near the Strait of Hormuz.
This coincided with a series of strikes targeting missile and air defense systems inside Iran.
These operations represent the latest escalation in the growing military confrontation between the two sides.
US strikes near the Strait of Hormuz
Axios reported that the US military also targeted Iranian Revolutionary Guard fast boats
at two locations around the Strait of Hormuz.
This occurred as part of military operations aimed at reducing Iranian capabilities
that threaten international shipping in the vital waterway.
The report added that these strikes were part of a broader US military campaign
following an escalation of Iranian attacks in the region, amid ongoing security tensions in the Gulf.
Targeting missile defenses
Axios reported that US forces carried out several precision strikes targeting Iranian missile and air defense systems about an hour ago.
This was an attempt to weaken Tehran’s military capabilities and reduce its ability to counter potential US operations.
These attacks came hours after the US announced it had conducted strikes targeting hundreds of Iranian targets.
Tehran responded by targeting US facilities and bases in several Gulf states.
It also confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed to shipping without Iranian permission.
Concerns about international navigation
The targeting of Revolutionary Guard vessels represents a new development in the nature of the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
The fighting has now extended to the maritime areas surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping lanes.
This tit-for-tat escalation raises growing concerns about a wider military confrontation and its repercussions for international maritime security and energy markets.
This comes as the United States affirms its continued operations to ensure freedom of navigation, while Iran maintains its measures to control shipping traffic in the Strait.
