US Navy resumes maritime blockade of Iranian ports, CENTCOM says

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The U.S. military announced on Wednesday that it had restarted a maritime blockade of vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas. More than 20 U.S. Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft are deployed at multiple locations across the Middle East, the Army said, adding that U.S. forces are maintaining a state of readiness. The move came shortly after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had launched a new round of air strikes against Iran. According to information relayed by CENTCOM, forces under the command began the new campaign at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. CENTCOM said the latest wave of strikes is intended to continue degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. No further operational details were immediately available.