In an effort to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, the US, last night bombed Iran’s coast-based missile sites which can pose a risk to international shipping.The US Central Command, which has a major detachment operating out of Bahrain, confirmed on Wednesday that it has hit Iranian missile sites.“Hours ago, US forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz,” the command said in post on X.Hours ago, U.S. forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the… pic.twitter.com/hgCSFH0cqO— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 17, 2026According to the statement, the Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait. The command also released a map showing the locations of the strikes.Sources said the anti-ship missiles positioned along Iran’s coastline can target any ship.The strikes come a day after US President Donald Trump’s plan to have a collective multi-nation force to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, had got a lukewarm response. The European allies of US in the NATO countries, as well as Japan, Australia and South Korea had rejected the plan of having a multi-nation force.The Strait of Hormuz, a 33-kilometre-wide waterway between Iran and Oman, has been strategically blocked impacting crude oil and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplies.