U.S. Launches Third Round of Airstrikes Against Iran Following Strait of Hormuz Blockade

In a major escalation of regional hostilities, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a massive waves of airstrikes against 140 military targets in Iran early Sunday morning. The operation, utilizing land-based aircraft, naval vessels, and drones, targeted missile sites, ammunition dumps, and air defense systems. This third round of strikes in a single week was a direct response to an Iranian attack on the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz that left the vessel in flames and one crew member missing. Following the U.S. strikes, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the Strait of Hormuz closed "until further notice," effectively blocking approximately 20% of the world’s oil trade and leaving over 6,000 seafarers stranded on commercial vessels. Iran also launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. host nations in the region, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf stated that "the era of one-sided deals is over," accusing the U.S. of failing to honor previous safe-passage agreements. The surge in violence marks the definitive collapse of the interim ceasefire established on June 17. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Iran would face further consequences, as Washington issued a diplomatic ultimatum demanding a formal apology by the end of July 12. Global energy markets are bracing for extreme volatility, with analysts predicting a 10–20% spike in crude prices if the blockade of the strait persists.