Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, July 12

The United States launched a fresh wave of military strikes against Iranian targets after accusing Tehran of attacking another commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating a rapidly widening confrontation that has heightened concerns over security in one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday that American forces struck around 140 Iranian military targets using precision-guided weapons fired from aircraft, drones and naval platforms, describing the operation as the third round of strikes carried out during the week.

The targets included missile and drone launch sites, naval assets, ammunition depots, communications facilities and coastal surveillance systems that Washington said had been used to threaten commercial shipping.

The latest strikes followed what the U.S. military described as an attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the Cyprus-flagged container vessel GFS Galaxy in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM said the ship suffered significant damage, including a fire in its engine room, leaving it unable to continue its voyage. One civilian crew member remains missing, according to the US military.

“The United States is continuing operations to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

The command said more than 300 Iranian military targets had been struck during three consecutive nights of operations.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth endorsed the military action, saying on social media that Iran had “made a poor choice” and would bear the consequences.

Iran has rejected US accusations, with state media reporting that Revolutionary Guard naval forces intercepted the vessel after it allegedly switched off its tracking system and deviated from an approved shipping corridor.

Iranian officials said the ship ignored repeated warnings before being stopped through what they described as warning shots.

The latest confrontation comes after Tehran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz “until further notice,” a move that has raised alarm among governments and global energy markets because roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil exports pass through the narrow waterway.

Regional tensions continued to mount as reports emerged of missile and drone attacks across the Gulf.

According to regional media reports, Iran claimed to have launched attacks targeting Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, while the United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems intercepted threats outside its territory.

Explosions were also reported in several Iranian coastal cities following the US strikes.

The UAE’s Defence Ministry said its armed forces remained on the highest state of operational readiness, while Saudi Arabia condemned attacks on commercial shipping and called for the protection of freedom of navigation in accordance with international law.

The military escalation follows a series of attacks on commercial vessels earlier in the week that prompted successive U.S. retaliatory strikes inside Iran.

Iranian authorities have previously said those operations killed 17 people and injured more than 100 others.

Despite the escalating conflict, US President Donald Trump has indicated that diplomatic contacts with Tehran remain open, according to media reports.

Washington has urged Iran to publicly reaffirm its commitment to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to international shipping and to halt attacks on commercial vessels in an effort to reduce tensions.

India condemns attack, one national missing

India strongly condemned the attack on the GFS Galaxy, saying one Indian national remained missing while ten other Indian crew members had been rescued.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian Embassy in Oman was working closely with Omani authorities involved in the search-and-rescue operation.

“We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman,” the ministry said, adding that New Delhi was closely monitoring the situation.

The ministry expressed concern over the deteriorating security environment in the Gulf and called for immediate de-escalation.

“The continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply worrisome,” the statement said. “We reiterate our call for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and a diplomatic solution.”

India also urged all parties to ensure the safety of international maritime trade, stressing that attacks on commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure must cease and that freedom of navigation through international waterways should be restored in accordance with international law.

The latest confrontation has intensified fears of broader regional instability, with governments and shipping companies closely monitoring developments in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf with global markets and a vital artery for international energy supplies.