Strait of Hormuz shut after US launches fresh strikes on Iran following IRGC attacks ships
PTC News Desk: The United States carried out a fresh round of airstrikes on Iran on Saturday after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly attacked the Cyprus-flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the US military.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the attack on the commercial vessel left one civilian crew member missing. It added that the ship caught fire, suffered heavy damage to its engine room, and could no longer continue its journey.
In a post on X, CENTCOM said Iran had been given another chance to follow previous agreements after earlier attacks on commercial ships but had failed to do so. The US said the latest strikes were aimed at weakening Iran's ability to target civilian ships and sailors passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM said the operation was ordered by US President Donald Trump. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also reacted on X, saying, "Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay."
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported several explosions in different parts of the country. Press TV said blasts were heard in Bushehr and Asaluyeh, while state television also reported explosions near Chabahar. Mehr News Agency reported explosions on Qeshm Island, and state broadcaster IRIB said blasts were heard in Bandar Abbas and Sirik. The IRNA news agency also reported more than 10 explosions in the southern port city of Jask.
The strikes came just hours after Iran announced that it considered the Strait of Hormuz closed again. Iranian authorities said a vessel travelling through what they called an "unauthorised route" had been fired upon with a warning shot. According to IRIB, the IRGC Navy said it would not allow ships to pass through the strategic waterway until what it described as US interference in the region comes to an end.
- With inputs from agencies
