The US military launched a massive wave of airstrikes against Iran on Saturday night, striking approximately 140 targets in retaliation for an Iranian assault on a commercial container ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The operation marks the third time this week that American forces have struck Iranian territory, triggering an immediate chain reaction of counterattacks across the Middle East as Tehran fired salvos at US allies and regional military hubs.
US Response
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the American strikes began at 7:15 p.m. Eastern Time using naval vessels, fighter jets, and drones. The operation targeted Iranian missile and drone sites, naval assets, ammunition warehouses, communication nodes, and coastal surveillance networks. Added to earlier operations this week, the US has hit more than 300 sites in Iran.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on social media, “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.” The US actions were prompted by an earlier attack by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
International Response
Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates defense ministry confirmed its air defenses were actively intercepting Iranian ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. Qatar also reported intercepts, noting that three people, including one child, were injured by falling missile debris.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
