ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Monday said it carried out a new wave of strikes against Iran, hitting dozens of targets at multiple locations with a stated goal of weakening its ability to attack commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

In the early hours of Sunday, CENTCOM said it completed its largest round of strikes since fighting resumed this week, hitting around 140 military targets after accusing Tehran of attacking a Cyprus-flagged commercial vessel in the strategic waterway.

Later in the evening, Iranian media said at least 10 explosions were heard on Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, adding that military sites were targeted. State media further reported that one communications maintenance personnel was killed.

“CENTCOM completed a new wave of offensive strikes against Iran, July 12, hitting dozens of targets at multiple locations with precision munitions to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking international shipping flowing through the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said 

Since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran in late February, Tehran has shut off the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway responsible for the transport of roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil, sharply driving up global oil prices. 

The free navigation of the waterway has been a key Washington demand in the memorandum of understanding reached with Iran to end hostilities and return to talks. 

“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade. Iran does not control it,” CENTCOM added, reaffirming that its forces are positioned to ensure navigational freedom despite “Iran’s continued unwarranted aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations.”

Since hostilities resumed, Iran has also launched retaliatory strikes across the region, targeting US assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. 

The renewed fighting has cast further doubt on the already shaky ceasefire between the warring parties.