US Hits Iran With 'Series Of Powerful Strikes' After Hormuz Ship Attacks; Tehran Retaliates
US Hits Iran With 'Series Of Powerful Strikes' After Hormuz Ship Attacks; Tehran Retaliates Published By, Last Updated: July 08, 2026, 07:28 IST Multiple explosions
US Hits Iran With 'Series Of Powerful Strikes' After Hormuz Ship Attacks; Tehran Retaliates Published By, Last Updated: July 08, 2026, 07:28 IST Multiple explosions were heard around Strait of Hormuz, which included six on the island of Qeshm, seven in the city of Sirik and a few in the major port city of Bandar Abbas. Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance. (Source: Reuters) The United States on Tuesday launched “powerful" military strikes against Iran after three commercial ships were struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Iran carried out retaliatory strikes on the US Navy warships in the Sea of Oman. US Central Command, in a statement, said the “powerful" strikes were carried out in response to Iranian attacks on ships passing through the waterway and would “impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping." “U.S. Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.
The U.S. strikes are in response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire," it said in the statement. Explosions In Kharg, Qeshm, Bandar Abbas Explosions were reported across multiple locations in southern Iran early Wednesday, with Iranian media saying blasts rocked the country’s key oil export hub on Kharg Island, as well as Qeshm Island and the port cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas. Iranian state television said no civilian fatalities had been reported, though several people were injured after an “enemy projectile" struck a commercial pier in Sirik. The broadcaster added that fishing piers in Sirik and Bandar Abbas were also hit, setting several fishing boats on fire. State-run Press TV reported multiple explosions on Kharg Island, which handles around 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster reported that several people were wounded after being hit by shrapnel from an “enemy projectile", which hit a commercial dock in the southern port of Sirik. It stated that the wounded were taken to the Minab Hospital.
Meanwhile, a U.S. official told Reuters that the strikes were aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities, targeting air defence systems, coastal surveillance infrastructure, surface-to-air missile batteries, anti-ship cruise missiles and drone launch sites. The US strikes were carried out amid the 7-day funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran Launches Retaliatory Strikes Iran launched retaliatory strikes and fired at least two anti-ship cruise missiles and various drones at US Navy warships in the Sea of Oman in response to US strikes, according to Fars news agency. Earlier, Iran’s foreign ministry critcised the US for repeatedly violating the memorandum of understanding, which was signed between the two countries and threatened retaliation. “Iran is issuing a serious warning about the consequences of America’s breach of the treaty, and will take decisive measures to protect its interests and national security," the ministry said in a statement. Trump Approves Iran Strikes According to a report published in Axios, US President Donald Trump had approved the Iran strike plan and gave the orders on Tuesday during his visit to Turkey for the NATO Summit. According to a US official, President Donald Trump convened a high-level meeting in Ankara with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who travelled with him aboard Air Force One.
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