The US military announced on Sunday that it is launching strikes against Iran in response to an attack targeting a civilian ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the US military launched a new round of strikes on Iran, after Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces attacked a container ship flying a Cypriot flag that was crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM said in a statement that 'one civilian crew member is missing, and the ship is unable to continue its voyage due to a fire on board and severe damage to the engine room.'

CENTCOM confirmed that the strikes were carried out under the direction of US President Donald Trump.

Axios quoted a US official as saying that among the targets of the US strikes in Iran are missile and drone launch sites, as well as air surveillance radars and missile storage sites.

Reuters quoted Iranian media as saying that reports spoke of explosions being heard on Qeshm Island.

According to Iranian media, explosions also occurred in Bushehr and Asaluyeh in southern Iran.

The British Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Sunday that it received a report of an incident nine nautical miles east of Oman.

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The authority reported that military authorities informed that a container ship was damaged, leading to a fire on board.

Later, the authority confirmed that the crew of the targeted ship east of Oman had abandoned it and were currently on a lifeboat.

Iranian state media had reported that the Revolutionary Guard's navy announced early Sunday morning that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz until further notice.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard's announcement came after its navy fired warning shots at a ship, saying it attempted to pass through an unauthorized route, according to Reuters.

According to Axios quoting a US official, the Revolutionary Guard fired a missile at a commercial cargo ship trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz, causing it to be hit and damaged.

US officials told Axios that Washington had demanded Iran make a formal announcement confirming the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and stopping attacks on ships, but instead the attack occurred.