WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States had launched a fresh wave of strikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, describing the operation as "large and powerful" and warning Iran of a stronger response if it retaliates.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: "The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian Targets near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes are large and powerful, and in retaliation for the Iranians' failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!), and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our Military Base in Jordan."
Trump added that any retaliation by Iran against what he called the "very justified attack" would be met with a stronger response, hinting at a larger operation ahead. "If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!" he wrote.
Military operation
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that US forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran at 12 p.m. ET (9:30 p.m. IST). The strikes "follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region," CENTCOM said.
According to the Economic Times, CENTCOM cited the IRGC's recent attempts against commercial shipping and American personnel as the justification for the operation. The strike marks a significant escalation in the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments.
Trump's claim on ships
In a separate interview with podcast host Dan Patrick, recorded Tuesday and posted Wednesday, Trump said US forces had destroyed 28 ships in the strait. "We now control the Strait of Hormuz. We control it. Last night we took out 28 boats, 28 ships. We control it. They get nothing, and we took out ships," he said. The president's statement appeared to refer to vessels involved in the minelaying attempts, as reported by TASS.
Background
Earlier, on August 31, CENTCOM said the military strikes on Iranian territory were intended to prevent the IRGC from deploying mines in the strait. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime route for global oil exports, and any disruption there can affect world energy markets.
The operation comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with both sides trading warnings. While the White House has framed the strikes as defensive, the situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected.