US launches strikes against Iran after attack on Cyprus-flagged container ship

The U.S. military said July 11 it launched a new round of strikes against Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces attacked a commercial container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz. 

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in an X post that the strikes began around 7:15 p.m. Eastern at the direction of President Donald Trump in response to the IRGC’s attack on the GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship. 

A civilian crew member remained missing after the attack, while an onboard fire and damage to the ship’s engine room left the vessel unable to continue, according to CENTCOM. 

“Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed,” the military wrote. “In response, the United States is imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait.”

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said on X that Iran “made a poor choice,” and added, “Now they pay.” 

Shortly before the U.S. announced its operation, the IRGC navy declared the Strait of Hormuz closed. According to NBC News, Iranian state media reported that the IRGC fired on and stopped one vessel after it allegedly disabled its tracking and identification systems, which Iran claimed threatened maritime security.

“Additional enemy bases in the region will be targeted,” the IRGC said through its official state news agency, NBC News reported. Tehran added that the strait was “closed until further notice and will remain closed until the end of U.S. interference in the region.”

The July 11 operation marked the third round of American attacks on Iran this week. The renewed fighting has placed further strain on an interim agreement intended to pause the war. Trump said July 8 that he considered the ceasefire effectively over following Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping, as Zeale News previously reported.

The Iranian and Omani foreign ministers met July 11 to discuss security and navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. According to a readout cited by CBS News, both sides expressed a desire to return to the conditions of the interim agreement.

The escalation came one day after Trump warned that the U.S. would respond with overwhelming force if Iran attempted to assassinate him. The President’s threat followed the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, where English-language banners called for Trump’s killing, NBC News reported.

“1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat,” Trump said in a July 10 post. 

He added that orders “have already been given, and the U.S. Military is ready, willing, and able, for a one year period of time, subject to extension, to completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran.”

Earlier July 10, the New York Post quoted Trump as saying he “left instructions” for the U.S. to “just literally bomb [Iran] at levels they’ve never seen before” if he were assassinated. He told the outlet he has “been No. 1” on their target list “for a long time."