US forces carried out self-defence strikes in southern Iran on Monday, Central Command has confirmed, targeting missile launch sites and boats attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon described the operation as a measured response to protect US troops from direct threats posed by Iranian forces.
The strikes occurred just as a high-level Iranian delegation arrived in Qatar for talks aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire in the conflict that began earlier this year. Officials stressed that the action was limited and did not indicate a breakdown in the truce. The incident comes amid delicate negotiations to end hostilities that have disrupted regional stability since February.
