![US President Donald Trump delivers a speech at the 2026 NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday. [EPA]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/07/09/rcv.YNA.20260709.PEP20260709045001009_P1.jpg)
The US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday it carried out additional airstrikes against Iran in response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM announced on social media platform X that it had launched the additional strikes targeting Iran "at the direction of the commander in chief," US President Donald Trump.
"These strikes are intended to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said, adding that "the United States is holding Iran accountable for its unjustified attacks on commercial ships and civilian mariners freely navigating critical international waterways."
The strikes marked the second consecutive day of US military action against Iran, following initial strikes on Tuesday. Washington said the action was a response to Iran's continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump, visiting Ankara for the NATO summit, had signaled further strikes were possible, saying "we may hit Iran very hard again, maybe tonight."
mokiya@heraldcorp.com
