U.S. Conducts Strikes on Iranian Launch Sites; Tehran Warns of Retaliation

The U.S. military launched a series of self-defense strikes against Iranian assets in southern Iran, targeting missile batteries and vessels identified as threats to U.S. aircraft and international shipping. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation was designed to suppress launch sites and mine-laying activities near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has condemned the actions as a violation of ceasefire protocols, warning that it will respond if U.S. military operations continue. Despite the spike in kinetic activity, CENTCOM officially denied that it has resumed "Project Freedom," clarifying that U.S. forces are not currently escorting commercial vessels through the sensitive waterway. The security situation remains volatile as the focus of the confrontation shifts toward maritime security and the suppression of coastal launch capabilities. On the diplomatic front, President Trump relocated a planned high-level meeting regarding Iran from Camp David to the White House due to inclement weather. Meanwhile, regional mediation remains active, highlighted by a recent phone call between the leaders of Iran and Qatar. These discussions occur against a backdrop of widening instability in Lebanon and Gaza, which continues to influence the broader U.S.-Iran security dynamic.