US Launches Fresh Strikes on Iranian Military Targets, Says CENTCOM

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday (local time) announced the completion of a fresh wave of military strikes against Iranian targets, saying the operation focused on command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities linked to threats in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, CENTCOM said the strikes concluded at 9 pm ET on July 15 and involved precision-guided munitions targeting multiple locations, including the strategic Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas.

"US forces struck Iranian command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten innocent mariners crewing commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM used precision munitions to hit targets in multiple locations, including Bandar Abbas," CENTCOM said.

Earlier operation targeted Greater Tunb Island

CENTCOM said American forces had also conducted a separate 90-minute military operation earlier in the day against Iranian coastal defence and cruise missile sites on Greater Tunb Island.

"Earlier this morning, American forces struck coastal defense and cruise missile sites on Greater Tunb Island during a 90-minute wave," the statement said.

Reiterating Washington's position, the US military added, "The U.S. military is holding Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief's direction."

Iran reports missile strike near cancer hospital

Hours after CENTCOM announced the latest strikes, Iranian authorities said a missile attack hit areas near Boghayi Hospital 2, a cancer treatment facility in the southwestern city of Ahvaz.

Hossein Kermanpour, Head of the Public Relations and Information Center at Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said patients and their attendants fled the hospital following the explosions.

In a post on X, Kermanpour said, "Moments ago, the areas near Boghayi Hospital 2 (dedicated to cancer patients) in Ahvaz were hit by a missile attack. Some patients and their companions, out of fear from the intense sound and severe tremors, have fled the hospital, and now only the most critically ill patients remain!"

Industrial facility in Qeshm sustains limited damage

Iranian state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) also reported damage to an industrial facility in Qeshm in Hormozgan Governorate.

According to IRIB, quoting a statement from the Hormozgan Governor, "Following an enemy attack on part of the Souza fish powder factory in Qeshm, limited damage was caused to the factory. Due to the empty location, no injuries have been reported at this time."

CENTCOM said the latest military action was aimed at degrading Iranian capabilities that it alleged had been used to threaten commercial shipping transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.

(With inputs from ANI)