US hits Iran twice in a day, targeting air defenses and command centers
Photo: The struggle for the Strait of Hormuz continues (Getty Images)
Starting on July 15 and continuing into the night of July 16, the US launched two waves of attacks against Iran. Various military facilities in Tehran and even a tanker heading toward Iranian ports were targeted, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
First attack
The first wave of strikes against Iran began at 6 a.m. and lasted until 7:30 a.m. on July 15, Washington time.
Afterward, CENTCOM reported that during the 90-minute attack, US forces fired munitions at Iranian coastal defense systems, as well as at storage and launch sites for cruise missiles on the island of Great Tund.
"The strikes are designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," the statement says.
Second wave of strikes
Later that same day, starting at 3 p.m. local time, the US military launched a new series of strikes against Iran. It lasted until 9 p.m.
During the new attack, the US struck Iranian command centers, air defense facilities, missile and drone systems, as well as coastal reconnaissance facilities.
The goal of all these actions is to further weaken Iran’s ability to threaten peaceful sailors aboard commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
In addition, during the attacks, the US struck an empty oil tanker that was attempting to head toward an Iranian port in the Persian Gulf.
"US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces observed Curacao-flagged M/T Belma transiting international waters toward Kharg Island. The commercial vessel ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to violate the U.S. blockade. A US aircraft disabled the vessel after firing hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran," the post states.
It notes that the blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect.
US may intensify operations against Iran
A week ago, Axios reported that the White House is preparing for the possibility of a multi-day or even multi-week exchange of strikes between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. The report stated that the duration and scale would depend directly on Tehran’s next moves.
According to The Wall Street Journal, US President Donald Trump is leaning toward expanding US operations in Iran.
Specifically, options under consideration include intensifying strikes, deploying ground forces to seize Iranian islands, bombing the tunnel complex on Pickaxe Mountain, and more.
