Nicosia, Cyprus. A Cyprus-flagged container ship was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz early on Sunday, leaving one civilian crew member missing and the vessel unable to continue its voyage due to a fire and significant engine-room damage.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced shortly afterwards that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed until further notice, while the United States launched further strikes against Iranian positions in the wider area.
Attack on vessel
US Central Command said Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces attacked the M/V GFS Galaxy as it crossed the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM said its forces began a third round of attacks against Iran this week at 7.15pm Eastern Time on Saturday, or 2.15am in Cyprus on Sunday, following the attack on the Cyprus-flagged container ship.
According to CENTCOM, one civilian crew member is missing. The vessel was unable to continue its voyage because of a fire on board and substantial damage to its engine room.
US response
CENTCOM said Iran had been given another opportunity to demonstrate compliance with a memorandum of cooperation after being called to account for earlier attacks on commercial vessels, but had failed again.
The United States said it was imposing a high cost and continuing to reduce Iran’s ability to attack civilian seafarers and commercial ships transiting freely through the strait.
The strikes were carried out under the direction of the US commander-in-chief, CENTCOM said.
Further raids
US forces later launched another wave of raids against Iranian military positions in the wider Strait of Hormuz area.
The United States said the operation was conducted in response to the attack on the civilian vessel and was intended to safeguard freedom of navigation.