U.S. Strikes Iranian Missile Sites Near Strait of Hormuz

By Ginika Igboke

The U.S. military announced on March 17 that it carried out strikes on fortified Iranian missile positions near the Strait of Hormuz using multiple 5,000-pound deep-penetrator munitions.

According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation targeted Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles positioned along the country’s coastline that posed a threat to international shipping in the vital waterway.

The strikes employed bunker-buster weapons designed to destroy hardened and deeply buried targets. These munitions can be deployed from both fighter jets and bomber aircraft.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, with roughly 20 percent of global oil supplies passing through it daily.

Maritime traffic in the region has been heavily disrupted since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran in late February. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, U.S. forces, and assets across Gulf nations.

President Donald Trump has called on countries that depend on the waterway to assist in securing it. He previously named China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom as nations he hoped would contribute naval support, while U.S. forces continue targeting Iran’s remaining naval capabilities.

However, Trump said on March 17 that most members of the NATO have indicated they are unwilling to join the effort, despite broadly agreeing with U.S. actions.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated on March 16 that the Strait of Hormuz is closed to the United States, Israel, and their allies, but remains open to other nations. In remarks on March 15, he said Iranian forces had allowed certain vessels from unspecified countries to pass through.

A recent analysis by Lloyd’s List Intelligence found that Iran’s attacks on ships in the region show no consistent pattern. Instead, they appear aimed at general disruption rather than targeting specific countries or vessel types.

The report reviewed 16 vessels struck since the conflict began on Feb. 28 across the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman. Those ships represented 12 different national flags, including one from the United States, three from the Marshall Islands, and two from Malta.