U.S. military announces new strikes on Iran, enforces naval blockade in Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. Central Command announced a new wave of strikes on Iran on Wednesday morning (July 16), marking the fifth consecutive day of U.S. attacks aimed at degrading Iranian military capabilities used to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, the U.S. military reinstituted a naval blockade on Iranian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, intercepting two vessels and disabling one non-compliant oil tanker. Iranian state TV, IRIB, reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to all vessels and reported warning shots fired at two commercial ships attempting to pass 'illegally.'