The United States carried out a significantly expanded wave of military strikes against Iran overnight Tuesday, targeting a broad range of military assets following attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

According to a senior US official cited by Axios, the latest operation was four to five times larger than similar strikes conducted around ten days earlier. The campaign targeted multiple Iranian military capabilities, including air defense systems, coastal surveillance infrastructure, surface-to-air missile batteries, anti-ship cruise missile launch sites, drone launch facilities, and port-related military installations.

The scope of the operation suggests a broader effort to weaken Iran's defensive and offensive capabilities, particularly those linked to maritime security and missile operations in the Gulf.

Earlier, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it had launched what it described as "powerful" strikes in response to attacks on three commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM said the military action was a direct response to the attacks and warned that Iran would face "serious consequences" for targeting commercial shipping. The command also described the attacks as unjustified, dangerous, and a clear violation of the existing ceasefire.

Iranian state media reported multiple explosions in areas surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, including Qeshm Island, Sirik, and Bandar Abbas. State television said six explosions were heard on Qeshm Island and seven in Sirik, while local reports indicated that projectiles struck commercial and fishing piers in Sirik's port.

The strikes mark the first direct US military action against Iran since a series of airstrikes carried out late last month. They come despite a ceasefire that officially took effect on April 8, as intermittent violence continues to threaten stability across the Gulf region.