The New York Times, citing two U.S. officials, reported that the recent American strikes against targets in southern Iran were carried out after Washington assessed a series of military movements by the Islamic Republic to be threatening.
According to these officials, before the strike, U.S. forces had been monitoring drone activity and movements at missile launch sites in southern Iran. It was also reported that forces of the Islamic Republic had deployed minelaying boats in the Strait of Hormuz and had flown attack drones near American vessels.
CENTCOM announced that Monday’s strikes were a “defensive action” and targeted assets including mine-carrying boats and missile sites, even though, according to the United States, the ceasefire remained in effect. In contrast, the Islamic Republic described these strikes as a violation of the ceasefire and promised retaliation. Nevertheless, The Wall Street Journal, citing Iranian and Arab officials, wrote that Tehran delayed announcing the deaths of many IRGC personnel killed in these strikes to prevent damage to the ongoing negotiation process with Washington.
