The United States has launched “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran, U.S. Central Command said Monday, as peace talks continue.
The action was taken to “protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, told the Washington Examiner.
“Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines,” he added. “U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.”
The U.S. strikes were carried out near Bandar Abbas, a port city that hosts a large Iranian naval base next to the Strait of Hormuz, according to the New York Times.
The defensive military strikes come amid heightened tensions between the two warring sides as they push for peace negotiations.
Notably, U.S. Central Command’s statement claims Iran continues to mine the strait during the high-stakes peace talks.
Tehran previously laid mines across the waterway to disrupt commercial shipping and establish a strategic blockade. The U.S. Navy has been working to clear all mines in the Strait of Hormuz since April.
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Last month, President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to destroy any boats that may be releasing sea mines after hearing reports that the Iranian military had not stopped its mining operations.
It remains to be seen whether more fighting breaks out as the U.S. and Iran inch toward a potential peace agreement.