⚠️ U.S. launches a third round of strikes against Iran: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said: "Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay."
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces began the third round of strikes this week at 7:15 p.m. ET after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces attacked the Cyprus-flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
According to CENTCOM, one civilian crew member is missing. A fire and significant engine-room damage left the vessel unable to continue its voyage.
CENTCOM said Iran had been given another opportunity to comply with the memorandum of understanding after earlier attacks on commercial shipping but again failed to do so.
The United States said it is imposing a heavy cost by further degrading Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the strait. The strikes were ordered by the Commander-in-Chief.
💥 Approximately 140 Iranian military targets struck overnight: CENTCOM said precision munitions launched from air, land, and sea struck approximately 140 Iranian military targets during the latest round.
More than 300 targets have now been struck over three nights as part of the campaign to degrade Iran's ability to threaten maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM added that U.S. forces have facilitated the transit of more than 800 commercial vessels carrying approximately 400 million barrels of crude oil through the region since early May.
💥 Explosions reported across southern Iran: Iranian media reported attacks or explosions in Kerman, Bushehr, Jask, Kangan, Deir, Asaluyeh, Mahshahr, Sirik, Minab, and Bandar Abbas.
Bushehr is home to Iran's nuclear power plant, although reports did not indicate the facility itself was struck.
IRIB reported an explosion in Shah Abdullah village in southern Khuzestan Province with no casualties, along with two additional explosions at the Port of Jask.
Iranian air defenses were reported engaging targets over Mahshahr.
Reports said U.S. aircraft continued departing Bahrain while missiles were launched toward Iran from Bahrain and other Gulf states. Bahrain was also reported to have granted U.S. forces access to its territory and airspace.
Large numbers of unidentified airborne objects were also reported over Iraq's Basra region heading toward Iran. Reports suggested they may have originated from Kuwait, although this remains unconfirmed.
⚓ Commercial shipping remains under attack: UKMTO said the crew abandoned the heavily damaged M/V GFS Galaxy in lifeboats.
India condemned the attack, stating that 10 of the 11 Indian nationals aboard were rescued, while one remains missing.
Separate reports indicated another commercial vessel may also have been struck by an Iranian missile.
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