The US has been carrying out strikes on Iranian military targets for almost two weeks now
Late in the evening of 23 July, the US Armed Forces announced the completion of their latest series of strikes against Iran – the 13th in a row. According to US Central Command, the latest operation lasted over two hours.
CENTCOM stated that the strikes targeted Iranian military command centres, drone depots, communications networks, coastal surveillance facilities and naval forces. The command noted that these actions were aimed at further reducing the threat posed by Iran to civilian sailors and commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
On the same day, US President Donald Trump announced his intention to impose ‘severe military punishment’ on Iran and the Houthis linked to it, following an attack by Yemeni militants on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. According to him, this had extended hostilities to yet another vital maritime transport route.
Trump also threatened strikes against Iranian energy facilities and bridges. In response, Iran stated that should these threats be carried out, its forces would attack oil, gas, power and other economic facilities in the region.
Reuters points out that the 1949 Geneva Conventions prohibit attacks on targets considered vital to the civilian population. Following similar statements by Donald Trump in April, American experts in international law noted that such strikes could be classified as war crimes.
It is also reported that the Iranian government has rejected a US proposal for a ceasefire, which was conveyed to the Iranian side by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi.
