US strikes Iran for 13th consecutive night amid Strait of Hormuz tensions
The United States military announced late Thursday that it had completed its latest round of airstrikes on Iranian targets, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. In a statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it targeted Iranian military command centres, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites, and maritime capabilities. The stated aim was to reduce the threat Iran poses to civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments.
Iranian state media reported explosions near the Strait of Hormuz, including in Qeshm and Bandar Abbas, where two people were reportedly injured. Blasts were also heard to the northwest near Andimeshk, Omidiyeh and Firuzabad. The reports could not be independently verified.
The Houthi movement in Yemen, which is aligned with Iran, has threatened to shut down another key trade route, further straining the global economy. The world is already grappling with disruptions caused by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz—through which about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas passed during peacetime. The US and Iran have escalated attacks as they vie for control of the strait, triggering a scramble for alternative shipping routes.
The developments have significant implications for India, which relies heavily on crude oil imports from the region. Earlier, a Houthi attack on Saudi tankers pushed Brent crude past $100 per barrel, stressing India's supply chains.
