The United States launched a series of strikes against Iranian targets early Wednesday after three merchant ships were struck in waters off Oman.
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In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) blamed Iran for the attacks and said the strikes were intended to impose "heavy costs" on Tehran for targeting "innocent civilians in an international waterway."
"US Central Command forces have begun launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway," CENTCOM posted on its social media handle.
A US official told CNN that the strikes on Tehran were intended as "punishment, not proportional" and would continue for some time.
