US hits 'dozens' of Iranian sites in overnight strikes, as Iran targets US bases in region

In its first update, posted on Sunday evening, US Central Command (Centcom) said its strikes aimed to degrade Iran’s ability to 'attack civilian mariners and commercial ships' in the Strait of Hormuz, after a series of attacks in the waterway. In a separate post, published at 03:30 BST, Centcom said it had 'completed' its attacks. Is said it had struck air defence-systems, coastal radar sites, naval vessels and missile and drone sites. 'The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade. Iran does not control it,' said Centcom. 'US forces are postured and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available to commercial shipping despite Iran’s continued unwarranted aggression.' The US said its attacks involved 'fighter aircraft, naval vessels, one-way attack aerial drones, and one-way attack sea drones for the first time'. The US military has carried out a wave of strikes on Iran overnight - targeting dozens of Iranian military installations, including air-defence systems, coastal radar facilities, and missile and drone sites. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it retaliated with strikes on US military bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain. The US says the attacks are a response to Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz - Iran says the waterway is closed until further notice, while the US insists it is open. In a statement detailing Sunday night's strikes, Centcom said US forces are 'postured and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available to commercial shipping'. In June, both sides agreed a ceasefire as part of a 'memorandum of understanding' - but last week, Donald Trump said the ceasefire was 'over', while calling Iran's leadership 'scum'.