U.S. and Iran Trade Strikes Over Strait of Hormuz Status
10 reported2 unconfirmed
The United States launched another round of strikes against Iran overnight in retaliation for an Iranian attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said Saturday night that the strikes were carried out at the behest of President Donald Trump. Before the announcement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy declared the disputed Strait of Hormuz closed, blaming foreign interference and attempts by several vessels to pass through unauthorized routes. CENTCOM said a crew member is missing and the ship, the M/V GFS Galaxy, cannot continue its voyage after a fire and engine room damage. CENTCOM insisted the Strait of Hormuz “is open to all vessels seeking to lawfully transit the international waterway,” adding that “U.S. forces are positioned and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available.” The IRGC said the strait’s closure was the result of “insecurity created by the unlawful interference of foreign actors” and warned that any military strikes would be met with “a forceful response.” The IRGC later said it responded to American strikes, hitting military targets in Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
What’s reported
The U.S. launched another round of strikes against Iran overnight in retaliation for an Iranian attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command said the strikes were carried out at the behest of President Donald Trump.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, blaming foreign interference and unauthorized vessel routes.
CENTCOM said a crew member is missing and the M/V GFS Galaxy cannot continue its voyage after a fire and engine room damage.
CENTCOM stated the Strait of Hormuz “is open to all vessels seeking to lawfully transit the international waterway” and that “U.S. forces are positioned and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available.”
The IRGC said the strait’s closure was due to “insecurity created by the unlawful interference of foreign actors” and warned of a “forceful response” to military strikes.
The IRGC later said it responded to American strikes, hitting military targets in Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei pledged to take revenge for the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed Feb. 28 in the opening strikes of the war.
President Trump warned Iran against any attempts to assassinate him, writing that a thousand missiles “are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Iran and Oman’s foreign ministers met on Saturday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz.
Open questions
The source article does not specify the exact number of casualties or the full extent of damage from the strikes.
It is unclear whether the Strait of Hormuz remains physically closed to all vessels or if traffic is flowing as CENTCOM claims.
Key figures
President Donald Trump
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (deceased)
Mojtaba Khamenei (Iran’s new Supreme Leader)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
Sources: NBC News
