U.S. launches strikes against Iran after ships hit in Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. military launched a series of strikes against Iranian targets early Wednesday after three merchant ships were struck in the waters off Oman.

In a statement posted to social media, U.S. Central Command said American forces launched the strikes "to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway."

READ MORE: U.S. revokes license authorizing sale of Iranian oil after 3 tankers hit in Strait of Hormuz

"Iran's demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire," the statement said.

Iranian state media reported the sound of explosions in Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz and Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf.

Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the earlier U.S. move to revoke a license that had authorized the sale of Iranian oil, saying in a statement that it violates the interim deal and that "the U.S. government bears responsibility for the consequences of this breach of commitment."

Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, also said in a post on X that the new attacks by the U.S. are a violation of that agreement.

U.S. strikes expected to go on for hours, official says

The American military strikes against Iran are expected to go on for hours and strike a variety of military sites and port facilities, U.S. officials said.

One U.S. official said the military is targeting Iranian air defense systems, coastal surveillance systems, ground-to-air missiles as well as launch sites for anti-ship cruise missiles and drones as part of the strikes. Iranian port facilities are also being targeted, the official added.

The second official said the strikes would likely last for hours.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing military operation.

— Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press