US Strikes Iran for Second Time in 2 Days As Strait of Hormuz Tensions Escalate
US Central Command said the strikes followed what Washington described as attempted attacks by the IRGC on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and on American service members deployed in the region.
The United States launched fresh strikes against targets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday, marking the second US military operation against Iranian targets in two days and escalating tensions around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, India Today reported.
US Central Command said the strikes followed what Washington described as attempted attacks by the IRGC on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and on American service members deployed in the region. Details about the targets, scale of the operation and possible casualties were not immediately available. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Says Iran Would Return to Ceasefire Agreement if US Does.
US Targets IRGC Positions
CENTCOM said American forces began striking IRGC targets in Iran at noon Eastern Time on Tuesday. The US military said the action was linked to recent attempts to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and US personnel stationed in the region. The latest operation comes after weeks of relative calm between Washington and Tehran.
Iranian state and semi-official media reported explosions in parts of southern Iran, including Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, although details about damage and casualties remained limited. ‘Failed Nation’: Donald Trump Targets Iran, Demands International War Crimes Trials for Its Leaders.
Second US Strike in Two Days
The latest strikes came two days after US forces targeted Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran described Sunday's operation as a deadly US attack and responded by launching ballistic missiles towards a US military facility in Jordan. Jordan said it intercepted eight missiles that entered its airspace early Monday. The exchange ended a month-long lull in direct military action between the two countries and has raised concerns about a renewed cycle of attacks.
Strait of Hormuz at Centre of Crisis
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the latest escalation. The narrow waterway is a major route for global energy shipments, with roughly one-fifth of the world's oil normally passing through it.
Commercial traffic has remained well below pre-conflict levels despite US claims that the waterway remains open. Recent attacks on shipping have further increased concerns among energy and maritime operators.
Two oil tankers were also attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to maritime security reports. No group had immediately claimed responsibility for those incidents.
Fighting Resumes After Period of Relative Calm
The renewed US-Iran military confrontation follows an extended period in which the Trump administration had indicated that it would rely more heavily on economic pressure against Tehran.
Washington had previously carried out a major strike campaign against dozens of IRGC targets on July 29 before holding off on further attacks. The latest operations have now returned the conflict to direct military confrontation, with both sides facing pressure to prevent further escalation.
Iran Signals Conditional Openness to Ceasefire
The military escalation comes as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would be prepared to return to the ceasefire agreement reached with Washington in June if the United States also resumes its commitments under the arrangement.
Pezeshkian's comments, made at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan, indicated that diplomatic options remain available despite the renewed fighting. The June understanding had envisaged a cessation of hostilities and negotiations towards a broader agreement, but it subsequently broke down.
Global Energy Markets on Alert
The renewed fighting around the Strait of Hormuz has also affected global energy markets. Oil prices moved sharply higher on Tuesday amid concerns that continued attacks could disrupt crude shipments through the waterway.
With US forces now conducting fresh strikes and Iran maintaining its military presence around the strait, the immediate focus remains on whether the latest exchange develops into a wider confrontation or is contained through diplomatic efforts.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 01, 2026 11:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
