The US military announced last night that it had used bunker busting bombs to strike fortified Iranian missile bases on the Iranian coast near the Strait of Hormuz, DPA reported, BTA reported.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for the area, said that “several” deep-penetration munitions, each weighing about 2,300 kilograms, were “successfully used” in the strikes.
The specialized munitions are used against fortified facilities or underground bunkers, Reuters reports.
“Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles at these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait“, CENTCOM said in a statement.
The Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman is about 55 kilometers wide and is a critical artery for international oil and liquefied natural gas transport.
Since the start of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Tehran has repeatedly threatened to strike ships passing through the strait. Ship traffic there has been virtually blocked since the start of the war about two and a half weeks ago.