The US military carried out a 13th consecutive night of strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Thursday.
In a statement, CENTCOM said the latest operation concluded at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on July 23 and targeted military command centres, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites and maritime capabilities.
The military said the strikes were intended “to further diminish the threat Iran poses to civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”
CENTCOM added that the strategic waterway remains open despite recent attacks attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“The international waterway remains open for transit despite recent attacks from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Commercial vessels continue to freely navigate the strait with US military support,” the statement said.
The command also said that more than 50,000 US service members are currently deployed across the Middle East.