US launches third round of strikes on Iran after ship attack: CENTCOM

Attack on cargo vessel triggers strikes

US Central Command on Saturday announced it had initiated a third round of strikes against Iranian targets this week, responding to an attack by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces on the commercial vessel M/V GFS Galaxy transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes commenced at 7:15 p.m. Eastern Time (2315 GMT), according to a statement posted by the military on social media platform X. "U.S. Central Command forces began launching the third round of strikes this week against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces blatantly attacked M/V GFS Galaxy," CENTCOM said.

Civilian crew member missing

The attack left one civilian crew member missing, according to the military statement, while the vessel sustained an onboard fire and significant engine room damage. The ship was "unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engineroom damage," CENTCOM added, noting the crew member remained unaccounted for.

Washington cites Tehran's failures

CENTCOM stated that Washington had extended "yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding" to Tehran following previous attacks on commercial vessels, but said Iran "has again failed" to comply.

"In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait," the command said, adding that the strikes "are being carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief."