The US military says it carries out retaliatory strikes on Iran after attacks on US forces. In a statement on Thursday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) says it targets sites it links to actions against US personnel, describing the response as occurring in the context of “unprovoked hostilities” attributed to Tehran. The reports say the US carried out strikes aimed at eliminating inbound threats and hitting Iranian military facilities.
Earlier, Iran’s top joint military command disputes the US account and says the US violates a ceasefire. Iran alleges the US struck an Iranian oil tanker and another ship entering the Strait of Hormuz, and also struck civilian areas. The Iranian command frames these actions as part of an escalation rather than retaliation.
The two sides present competing narratives about the trigger for the strikes and whether the actions violate an existing ceasefire. The US characterizes its operations as proportional and security-focused, while Iran depicts them as unlawful and involving civilian targets and disruptions to shipping.
