U.S. launches 3rd consecutive night of strikes on Iran

The U.S. military has begun a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, just after President Trump vowed to “hit them very hard.”

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes began at 4:45 p.m. ET on Monday at Trump’s direction. Details about the targets, damage or casualties were not immediately available.

“These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said.

Iranian state media reported explosions on Kish Island, a commercial hub off Iran’s southern coast in the Persian Gulf.

“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight, and we’re going to hit them hard tomorrow, and there’s not a damn thing they can do about it,” Trump said earlier Monday on “The Hugh Hewitt Show.”

Trump also threatened to attack Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified underground nuclear complex under construction near Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.

“We’re gonna take out Pickaxe Mountain,” Trump said. “Tell the Iranians to be ready. Let them know we’re coming, okay? There’s not a damn thing they can do about it.”

The latest strikes come ahead of the resumption of a U.S. naval blockade against Iran at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. CENTCOM said the blockade will apply to vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas, while other maritime traffic will be allowed to continue.

The U.S. began its latest military campaign against Iran on July 7 after Tehran attacked several commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated by launching missiles at what it claimed were several U.S. bases and assets in neighboring Middle Eastern countries.