US says it hit 90 Iranian military targets in fresh strikes after Hormuz attacks

New Delhi: The United States on Thursday said it carried out another large-scale military operation against Iran on Wednesday, striking around 90 military targets along the country's coastline in what it described as an effort to prevent further attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes, announced by US Central Command (CENTCOM), targeted air defence systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities and military logistics infrastructure. According to CENTCOM, the latest operation followed an earlier round of strikes on July 7 in which about 80 Iranian military targets were hit, including more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) small boats. The US military said the earlier strikes were launched after Iran allegedly violated a ceasefire by attacking three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had not immediately responded publicly to the latest US claims. "The latest strikes further degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping and innocent civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said, adding that US forces remained prepared to conduct further operations if directed. The latest escalation marks one of the biggest publicly announced US military operations against Iranian military infrastructure in recent years and signals that Washington is seeking to impose direct military costs for what it says are threats to freedom of navigation in the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints. Around one-fifth of global oil consumption passes through the narrow waterway, making any military confrontation in the area closely watched by governments, energy markets and shipping companies. Over the past several years, the Gulf has witnessed repeated confrontations involving commercial vessels, tanker seizures, drone attacks and naval deployments. The waterway has remained a flashpoint in the long-running rivalry between the United States and Iran. The latest US operation focused on military infrastructure supporting Iran's coastal defence network. By targeting surveillance systems, missile and drone storage facilities, naval assets and logistics hubs, Washington appears to be aiming to reduce Iran's ability to monitor and challenge shipping movements through the Gulf. The announcement comes amid heightened military tensions in the region, where the US has maintained a significant naval presence to protect international shipping lanes and reassure its regional partners. There was no immediate independent assessment of the extent of damage caused by the strikes. CENTCOM also did not provide casualty figures or disclose the precise locations of the targets.