U.S. Launches Retaliatory Strikes on Over 80 Targets in Iran; Iran Responds by Attacking U.S. Facilities

[Anchor]

Following another attack on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. military has conducted retaliatory airstrikes against over 80 military targets within Iran. In response, Iran has struck U.S. military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, further escalating tensions in the region.

Reporter Park Won-gyeong has the story.

[Reporter]

The U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, announced via social media at approximately 12:45 p.m. today (July 8, KST) that it had completed its airstrike operations against Iran.

The operation, which concluded five and a half hours after it was announced, was a retaliatory measure for the attacks on three merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz that occurred on July 6 and 7 (local time).

U.S. Central Command stated that it struck more than 80 targets in Iran using precision-guided munitions.

The targets included Iranian air defense systems, coastal radar stations, and approximately 60 small vessels belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Central Command asserted that the attacks on the three merchant vessels were a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement, claiming that the U.S. strikes have weakened Iran's capability to attack international shipping passing through the strait.

The U.S. government has also revoked exemptions on sanctions related to the export of Iranian crude oil.

Iran immediately responded with counter-strikes.

In a statement broadcast on state television, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it had struck 85 U.S. military facilities located in Bahrain and Kuwait.

The IRGC claimed that its naval and aerospace forces conducted joint missile and drone operations as an initial response to U.S. aggression, further asserting that they had shot down one U.S. military drone.

Earlier, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement immediately following the U.S. airstrikes, warning of "grave consequences for the United States' violation of the previous agreement" and declaring that it would "take decisive measures to protect national interests and national security."

(Video Editing: Park Chun-bae)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.