The United States military launched two back-to-back waves of airstrikes against Iran on Wednesday, entering the fifth consecutive day of attacks in an escalating conflict over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command Statement

US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the second wave of strikes followed a round of morning attacks. While CENTCOM did not release details on the extent of the damage, the command issued a social media statement outlining the objective.

“The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, an international waterway vital to global commerce,” CENTCOM stated. “The US military is holding Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief’s direction.”

Iranian Response

Iranian state television reported that the US bombing campaign targeted positions along Iran’s southern coast, including Bandar Abbas, Khormuj, Ahvaz, Qeshm, Bushehr, and Kuh-e Stak. An additional strike targeted a barracks for Iran’s 388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in the Sistan and Baluchestan province.

President Donald Trump commented briefly on the situation after arriving in Pennsylvania for a defense technology summit. When asked if he would set a deadline before targeting Iranian infrastructure like power plants or bridges, Trump declined to establish a specific timeline.

“I don’t like giving deadlines, but they pretty much know — they know the story. They better behave,” Trump said.

US Sanctions

In tandem with the military actions, the US Department of the Treasury issued its third round of sanctions against an international network allegedly procuring weapons for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The sanctions target seven individuals and entities, including Iranian national Behrouz Namazi of Nika Jet Company, Italian national Dounia Ettaib, and two Russian nationals working for the aviation firm Avratek.

“President Trump has been clear that Iran must denuclearize,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an official statement. “Treasury will continue to target and disrupt the illicit procurement networks that fund Iran’s weapons programs and war machine.”

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.