The US Army’s Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed to CNN that the operation was aimed at destroying Iranian missile launchers and warships that were trying to deploy naval mines in the strait. According to CENTCOM spokesman Timothy Hawkins, it was a necessary step to protect American soldiers.
The United States military on Monday launched “self-defense strikes” targeting Iranian missile-launching facilities and ships in the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported by the US Army’s Central Command (CENTCOM) for CNN, writes TASR.
- The United States military launched attacks in southern Iran on Monday.
- The targets of the attacks were Iranian missile launchers and mine-laying ships.
- The US command described these operations as protecting soldiers from Iranian threats.
- President Donald Trump has given US troops a mandate to respond to Iranian provocations.
Explosions in the Strait of Hormuz
“Today, U.S. forces conducted defensive strikes in southern Iran to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” CENTCOM spokesman Timothy Hawkins said. He was responding to a question about the explosions that were reported from the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.
The spokesman clarified that the targets included missile launchers and Iranian ships attempting to plant mines. “US Army Central Command continues to defend our troops while maintaining restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins added.
Attacks during the ceasefire
American and Iranian troops have already attacked each other during the ceasefire announced in April, CNN reminds. US troops this month attacked Iranian military facilities, from which Iran launched a series of “unprovoked” drone and missile attacks on US warships passing through the strategic strait.
At the same time, the station recalls that US President Donald Trump authorized US troops to respond to Iranian provocations around the Strait of Hormuz.
