U.S. Conducts Self-Defence Strikes On Iranian Boats And Missile Sites Near Strait Of Hormuz

The US military carried out what it called “self-defence strikes” in southern Iran on Monday, targeting missile launch sites and Iranian boats near the Strait of Hormuz amid continuing tensions in the Gulf despite an ongoing ceasefire.

United States Central Command said the strikes were aimed at protecting US troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.

“US forces conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” CENTCOM spokesman Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said in a statement.

He said the targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats that were attempting to place mines in the region. Hawkins added that US forces were continuing to defend their troops while “using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire”.

According to Fox News, citing a senior US official, two Iranian boats were laying mines in the strait and US forces also responded after a missile targeted one of its warplanes.

The report said both vessels linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were destroyed and a surface-to-missile site near Bandar Abbas was also struck.

Two other sources told Fox News the latest attacks did not mean the ceasefire between the US and Iran had ended.

Iranian media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas and coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

Iran’s Mehr news agency said the situation in Bandar Abbas was under control and there was no cause for concern, though officials had not yet explained the cause of the explosions.

Tasnim news agency reported three explosions in Bandar Abbas, while Fars news agency said similar sounds were heard near Sirik and Jask, close to the strategic shipping route.

The strikes took place while the US and Iran continued talks aimed at reaching a agreement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations were continuing and talks between Iran’s negotiators and Qatar’s prime minister were expected.

“We’ll see if we can make progress,” Rubio said during a visit to India, adding that discussions over the wording of an initial document could take several days.

Rubio also said the Strait of Hormuz “has to be open one way or the other”, calling any disruption in the area “unlawful” and “unsustainable”.

US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were “proceeding nicely” but warned there would either be a “great and meaningful” deal or “no deal”.

Trump also said Iran’s enriched uranium would either be handed over to the US for destruction or destroyed under international supervision.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said progress had been made in talks but added that no final agreement was close.

Iran has continued monitoring shipping movements in the Gulf during the ceasefire period, while reports said the US Navy has tried to block Iranian ports.

Any military activity near the Strait of Hormuz is closely watched by global shipping companies and energy markets because a large share of the world’s oil exports passes through the narrow waterway.

Oil prices showed mixed movement after the latest developments. US West Texas Intermediate crude fell about 5% to $91.87 per barrel, while Brent crude rose 2.14% to $98.2 per barrel.

References: FirstPost, NDTV