US completes third round of strikes in Iran after hitting 140 targets, Qatar intercepts missile

THE US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday (local time) announced that it completed the third round of airstrikes in Iran after hitting some 140 targets.

The strikes were announced earlier today after Tehran shut the Strait of Hormuz once again "until further notice," with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacking another vessel in Hormuz for using the "unauthorised route."

CENTCOM announced in a post on X and wrote, "U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) completed a third round of strikes this week against Iran, July 11, holding Iranian forces accountable for attacking another commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz."

It added, "U.S. forces hit approximately 140 Iranian military targets with precision munitions launched by land- and sea-based fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels. Targets included Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks, and coastal surveillance locations."

Here are the top updates in the US-Iran war:

1. US CENTCOM noted that during the three nights of strikes carried out this week, the military hit over 300 targets to downgrade Tehran's ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels freely transiting the strait. It added that commercial vessels' transit via Hormuz, an arterial waterway that has been a key sticking point in negotiations between Tehran and Washington, continues.

CENTCOM launched attacks on Iranian sites, marking the third round of strikes this week in Iran after the IRGC attacked M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz. A civilian crew member was reportedly missing, and the vessel was unable to continue the journey due to an onboard fire and significant engine room damage.

2. After the US military carried out attacks in Iran, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf slammed Washington. In a post on X, he wrote, "The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking."

Ghalibaf has previously stated that Tehran has zero trust in the US and that it is prepared for a "full-scale defence."

He made these remarks on Saturday (local time). In a Telegram post, Ghalibaf wrote, "During the negotiations, I made it clear to the Vice President of the United States that we have zero trust in you. In my view, only those prepared for war can negotiate with the U.S. We have never ceased our preparations to defend our country. The moment the Americans betray any understanding, we are prepared for a full-scale defence; we will stand firmly against them and will claim the rights of the Iranian nation."

3. After Washington carried out attacks in Tehran, the Islamic Republic lashed out at the US' Gulf Arab allies again and responded by targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, AP reported. On Sunday, Qatar raised its security threat level twice, followed by a loud explosion being heard across parts of Doha.

The second threat level was raised an hour after officials announced that the previous alert had been lifted. Residents reported hearing the blast in multiple parts of the capital. Missile alerts sounded in Bahrain, an island kingdom in the Persian Gulf home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet, while Kuwait's military said it was intercepting incoming fire.

4. On Sunday, Iranian state media reported US strikes across a large part of the country's southern provinces, including Bushehr, Hormozgan, Khuzestan, and Sistan and Baluchestan. It offered no immediate damage or casualty figures from the strikes.

The latest strikes came a day after Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of violating the ceasefire. In a post on X, he wrote, "Iran has so far kept its word, unlike the so-called U.S. Treasury Secretary, who is violating Para 9 of the MoU. That violation follows other violations and missteps by the United States. Reality check: There can only be mutual compliance."

5. Senior US officials told CBS News that Iranian officials privately informed US President Donald Trump's advisers that they had made a mistake in attacking commercial ships in Hormuz, adding that the attacks stemmed from an "errant" sect of hardliners who are trying to undermine negotiations and that they want to keep talking.

The development comes as the White House wants Tehran to publicly acknowledge its mistake, a move that the Trump administration views as a violation of the ceasefire.