Three U.S. officials said recent strikes were intended to force Iran to reopen
the Strait of Hormuz and to degrade Iranian military capabilities the U.S. seeks
to neutralize before mounting more complex operations. Officials added the
strikes have widened Trump’s military options. The U.S. military said its latest
airstrike targeted Iranian air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and
drone bases, small boats and other maritime assets. One U.S. official described
the strikes as “shaping operations” to weaken Iran’s defenses and lay the
groundwork for more intensive follow-on action.
