The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) says the US has begun launching a third round of strikes on Iran in response to an attack on a civilian ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
A crew member on the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, is missing, according to CENTCOM, and the ship is stuck in the strait due to an onboard fire and significant engine room damage.
“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’s statement said.
“In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait.”
Explosions have been heard in the Iranian port cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, according to Iranian media, as well as on Qeshm Island, the largest island in the Persian Gulf and home to an underground Iranian missile base.
Iran earlier acknowledged the attack on the GFS Galaxy, saying it now considered the Strait of Hormuz to be closed “until further notice” after the ship travelled on an unapproved route, prompting the Revolutionary Guards to fire on it.
“A vessel that had jeopardised maritime security by switching off its systems was struck and brought to a halt,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy said in a statement, adding that any retaliation would itself be met with a “severe response”.
ABC/Wires
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