The US military ended a new wave of strikes against dozens of targets in Iran, saying it is ready to ensure continued freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US forces clarified in a statement on Monday that they targeted "Iranian military air defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile capabilities, drones, and small boats, using US fighter jets and naval vessels, in addition to one-way attack drones and one-way attack boats used for the first time."

Meanwhile, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard threatened to continue the revenge operation, saying that "our naval forces last night carried out an operation to stop two violator vessels that endangered commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz by disrupting their systems," according to Reuters.

This came after the US forces announced that they began at 21:00 GMT to launch "further strikes against Iran to continue undermining its ability to attack civilian sailors and commercial vessels freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz," and added that US President Donald Trump ordered these strikes "to hold Iranian forces accountable."

The US military also stated that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard had opened fire on commercial ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, according to CNN. It added that "US aircraft successfully shot down an Iranian cruise missile and a drone."

Sun, 12 2026

Explosions in Iran

Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported sounds of explosions near Sirik, west of Bandar Abbas, as well as on Qeshm and Jask, and explosions were heard in parts of Bushehr province, with explosions in Shahbandar in Hormozgan province, Abadan, Mahshahr south of Ahvaz, Chabahar, Minab, and southeast Sistan and Baluchestan, according to local media.

Also, US bombing targeted the fourth air base in Dezful north of Ahvaz, while electricity was cut off across Ahvaz, according to media, and one person was killed and four injured in a US raid on a water pumping station in the city of Mahshahr, as reported by Iranian media.

Diplomatic efforts aborted

Iran strongly condemned America's strikes on its territory, accusing Washington of "aborting" all diplomatic efforts made in recent months to de-escalate tensions in the region, according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry.

Tehran also accused Washington of "flagrantly violating" all terms of the memorandum of understanding signed in June, and "causing the return of insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and disrupting international commercial navigation," according to the statement.

Wed, 08 2026

Exchange of attacks

This came after Washington and Tehran exchanged missile and drone attacks earlier on Sunday, during which Iran targeted US facilities in Gulf countries, and also announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters.

In response, the US forces affirmed that "the Strait of Hormuz is open to all vessels seeking to transit this international waterway legally."

It also added that it is stationed and on standby to ensure continued freedom of navigation, despite unwarranted Iranian practices characterized by aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations, stressing that "Iran does not control the strait, and navigation is proceeding normally."

These developments cast doubt on the future of the interim US-Iran agreement signed by the two countries last month, which aimed to reopen the strait and end the war after additional negotiations over 60 days.