The United States launched a ninth consecutive day of military strikes against Iran on Monday, intensifying the conflict as concerns mounted over security in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had begun a “new wave of strikes” aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes. The command did not provide further operational details.
According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, US missiles struck several cities, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr, and Bandar Imam Khomeini, with explosions reported in multiple locations.
Hormuz Shipping Fears
The latest escalation has renewed concerns over the safety of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil exports.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that two oil tankers exploded and became immobilised while attempting to pass through what it described as an unsafe southern route in the strait. The IRGC alleged that the vessels had been encouraged by the US military to use the passage.
However, Reuters said it could not independently verify the claim, and Iranian authorities did not disclose the names of the vessels, their flags, crews or whether there were any casualties.
Data from LSEG showed that only four vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, compared with eight the previous day, highlighting growing caution among shipping operators.
US Vows to Continue Operations
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would continue military action as long as Iran threatened international shipping.
He stated that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and that the United States would respond to attacks on commercial vessels while remaining open to a diplomatic solution.
US-Iran Conflict Escalates as Seventh Consecutive Night of Strikes Deepens Regional Tensions
Iran Reports Counterattacks
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had carried out strikes on what they described as the “enemy’s special operations headquarters” in Al-Tanf, Syria, and launched ballistic missiles toward US aircraft at Jordan’s Aqaba Airport.
Iranian state media also reported drone attacks targeting US military facilities at Al-Adiri Camp and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
Meanwhile, Kuwait said a desalination plant had been struck for a second consecutive day, causing a fire at what it described as vital civilian infrastructure.
US Casualties Rise
The US military confirmed that another American service member was killed during operations in northern Iraq while conducting a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance recovered from a downed Iranian attack drone.
The latest death raised the number of US military personnel killed since the conflict began to 17, while more than 420 others have been wounded, according to US military figures.
Earlier, the US had reported two service members killed in Jordan, while efforts continue to identify remains recovered from a previous attack.
Regional Tensions Persist
The current conflict intensified after a temporary ceasefire agreement collapsed, leading to renewed exchanges between the United States and Iran.
The war, which began on February 28 following US and Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes, has resulted in thousands of deaths, most of them reported in Iran and Lebanon, while continued fighting has heightened concerns over regional stability, global energy supplies and international trade.
