US Central Command bombs Iranian antiship missile sites to protect maritime vessels, following President Trump's declaration on the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command has confirmed that it bombed Iranian antiship cruise missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz to reduce risks to both merchant and naval vessels, as reported by Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
The strikes were initiated following President Donald Trump's declaration that the US would reopen the strait without allied support. Iran has yet to deploy its full missile arsenal, leading to speculation that it is reserving its weapons for potential Western naval targets.
CENTCOM reported that 5,000-pound deep penetrator bombs were utilized against protected sites along the strait. No battle damage assessment has been released, and satellite imagery has been delayed, which limits independent analysis of the situation.
The weapon deployed was the GBU-72 bunker-buster, which was introduced in 2021. This bomb can penetrate more than 150 feet of earth and is deliverable by aircraft including the F-15E, B-1B, B-2, and B-52, all of which are currently active in the conflict.
The US Air Force has already utilized part of its limited 30,000-pound GBU-57 stockpile against Iran's nuclear program. The use of the smaller GBU-72 helps to preserve heavier munitions for other critical targets.
