Centcom: US Hit About 90 Iranian Targets in Second Round of Strikes

The United States conducted a devastating second round of air strikes against Iran, hitting approximately 90 military targets as a fragile truce between the two nations collapsed and traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz came to a near standstill.

Centcom announced on X that the strikes targeted Iranian air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure. The operation followed what the command described as "successful execution of offensive strikes" during the previous night.

Casualties Reported

Iranian state media reported casualties from the American assaults. At least three people were killed and several others injured in a US strike on the outskirts of Ahvaz, according to Iranian state television. Additionally, one person was killed in Iranshahr during a US attack, as reported by the governor of the southern city in Iranian state media.

According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated website Sepah News, the Iranshahr strike hit a flight facility building and meteorological station at Iranshahr Airport.

Strait of Hormuz Grinds to Halt

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz experienced unprecedented disruption on Thursday, with commercial vessel movements largely confined to an Iran-approved route nearer to the waterway's northern edge. The US-supported Omani corridor remained quiet, according to ship-tracking data.

Among larger vessels, only a US-sanctioned supertanker heading out of the Arabian Gulf was observed in the strait, alongside an Iranian-flagged container ship. However, analysts note that some vessels may be crossing with their transponders turned off, making comprehensive tracking difficult.

Historic Low in Shipping Activity

The slowdown represents a dramatic reversal from recent shipping patterns. On Wednesday, only 14 commodity carriers crossed the strait in both directions—the lowest number since the interim peace deal was brokered in mid-June, Kpler data shows.

For comparison, average daily transits stood at 34 vessels in the three weeks following the US-Iran agreement to reopen Hormuz, with a peak of 59 recorded on June 24. During wartime periods prior to the agreement, daily counts typically remained below 20.

Liquefied natural gas tanker traffic through the strait has come to a complete standstill, though two empty vessels have recently entered the Gulf of Oman and are heading toward Hormuz's eastern entrance.

Electronic Interference Detected

Signs of sporadic electronic interference emerged early Thursday, with vessels to the southeast of Limah in Oman appearing to travel at unusually fast speeds of at least 55 kilometers per hour. Experts suggest this could indicate activation of defense systems designed to obstruct hostile drones—systems that can inadvertently affect ships' transponder signals and complicate tracking accuracy.

Ceasefire Declared Over

President Donald Trump formally announced the ceasefire with Iran was terminated following what the administration characterized as Iranian violations, including attacks on three commercial vessels that triggered the initial US counterstrikes on Wednesday.

During that earlier operation, Centcom stated US forces struck approximately 80 Iranian military targets, including more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats, aiming to impose "heavy costs" on Tehran.

Future Operations Uncertain

Centcom emphasized that U.S. forces remain "vigilant, lethal, and prepared" to carry out further operations as directed by President Trump, signaling that additional military action remains on the table.

Military analysts warn that the dual rounds of strikes over consecutive days mark a significant escalation, with long-term implications for regional stability and global energy markets. With approximately 20-30% of global petroleum consumption passing through the Strait of Hormuz daily, prolonged disruption could have worldwide economic consequences.