U.S. Resumes Hormuz Blockade and Launches Additional Airstrikes; Iran Retaliates with Drones

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated further as the U.S. military launched extensive additional airstrikes against Iran on July 14 (local time), just before resuming a maritime blockade of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with drone attacks targeting U.S. military bases in the region.

A series of explosions occurred in Sirik, Bandar Abbas, and Hengam Island in Hormozgan Province near the Strait of Hormuz, and air defense systems were activated around the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

According to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency and other sources, U.S. projectiles struck areas near Sirik in Hormozgan Province at approximately 11:00 p.m. local time that day.

Reports also emerged of multiple explosions occurring between Sirik and the nearby village of Taherui.

IRNA reported that a location on Hengam Island, near the Strait of Hormuz, was hit by U.S. projectiles.

In addition, it is reported that further U.S. airstrikes took place near Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan Province, a key military and commercial hub bordering the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency reported that air defense systems were activated around the Bushehr nuclear facility.

There has been no official statement from Iranian authorities regarding potential damage to the nuclear plant.

Military tensions were also felt outside the Strait of Hormuz, with multiple explosions heard in Bampur in the southeastern interior of Iran and the port city of Chabahar on the coast of the Gulf of Oman.

These strikes followed earlier attacks by the U.S. military on coastal strongholds in southern Iran, including Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, and Qeshm Island, earlier that morning.

Previously, the U.S. Central Command stated on X, "At 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, we initiated additional strikes against Iran to continue to degrade Iran's ability to attack merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz."

The U.S. appears to have intensified its military pressure by launching these additional strikes about an hour before the scheduled resumption of the maritime blockade against Iran at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 14 (5:00 a.m. KST on July 15).

The Iranian military also announced that it had launched retaliatory drone attacks targeting a U.S. airbase in Jordan.

The Iranian military claimed to have struck areas where fighter jets are stationed and other facilities, asserting that this was the seventh drone attack against U.S. bases in the region.

Kuwaiti fire authorities stated that they extinguished a fire at one of the facilities hit by the Iranian attack and that there were no casualties.

Reuters, citing local Iranian media, reported that the Iranian military stated it would continue its drone operations targeting U.S. bases in the region until it achieves "final victory."

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, said in an interview with Iranian state television that their retaliation would make the U.S. "regret its actions."

He also criticized the U.S., stating that there had been no negotiations for nearly a month and that the U.S. had "shattered" the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that served as the foundation for the ceasefire.

He defined the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of national security during wartime and stated that he had requested Oman to suspend the use of shipping lanes along its coast.

U.S. Central Command Commander Brad Cooper said on X (formerly Twitter) that day, "The U.S. military is holding Iran accountable for its unjust attacks that continue to threaten innocent lives."

He stated that Iran had attacked seven merchant vessels over the past week, resulting in approximately 12 civilian crew members being killed, missing, or injured, and had fired dozens of missiles and drones toward neighboring Gulf countries.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.