The U.S. military is striking Iranian targets for the third time in a week, after the Islamic Republic “blatantly” attacked the Cyprus-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy as it went through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said on Satruday night.

“A civilian crew member is missing, and the vessel is unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engine room damage,” CENTCOM stated. “Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the memorandum of understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed.”

The U.S. military is responding by “imposing a heavy cost by continuing to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait,” CENTCOM said.

“These strikes are welcome, but they are being carried out to ‘degrade’ Iran’s regime’s ability to threaten commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz,” stated Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran. “However, if the U.S. wants to deter the regime, there will need to be a more robust response.”

“Iran made a poor choice,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated. “Now they pay.”

Earlier in the day, the Iranian regime declared the strait to be closed.

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