The United States military has completed a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, just hours before a renewed naval blockade of Iranian ports was set to take effect, further escalating tensions over control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest operation began at 4:45 p.m. Monday from its headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and was aimed at weakening Iran’s ability to threaten civilian populations and commercial shipping in the vital waterway.

According to CENTCOM, the five-hour operation successfully targeted multiple military sites across Iran, including locations in Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas.

Iranian state television and semi-official news outlets reported a series of explosions overnight along the country’s southern coastline, including the port city of Bandar Abbas, the islands of Kish and Qeshm, and the town of Jam in Bushehr province.

Iranian media said at least four people were injured in a U.S. strike on the southwestern city of Omidiyeh. Separately, the governor’s office in Bandar Abbas, quoted by the Fars News Agency, said a projectile hit the western part of the city but caused no casualties.

Meanwhile, the Tasnim News Agency reported that Iranian forces had engaged several vessels it described as violating restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz and claimed an American-made drone was shot down near Bandar Abbas.

The latest military exchanges underscore the growing confrontation between Washington and Tehran, as both sides continue to assert control over one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes.