US Prepares for New Attack, Demands Civilians Evacuate Strait of Hormuz Ports

The United States is preparing to launch a new military operation against targets in the Iranian region. The US military has requested that civilian workers in Iran avoid all port facilities along the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iranian port workers, administrative personnel, and commercial ship crews should avoid Iranian naval vessels and military equipment,” stated the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) in a statement, according to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

The Strait of Hormuz has been closed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards following the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel. Iranian naval forces have been positioned in the area to prevent vessels from passing through.

Most recently, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards launched an attack on two vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. One of the targeted ships was a bulk carrier from Thailand.

“The Express Rome, an Israeli-owned vessel flying a Liberian flag, and the Mayuree Naree container ship were struck by Iranian projectiles and stopped after ignoring warnings from IRGC naval forces,” the Revolutionary Guards stated in a statement carried by Iran’s ISNA news agency and reported by AFP.

Commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ naval forces, Alireza Tangsiri, stated in a post on X that “every vessel intending to pass must obtain permission from Iran”.

According to Reuters, Thai authorities issued a statement following the attack on their nation’s vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Thailand’s Ministry of Transport said that 20 crew members were rescued, but three other crew members remain missing.

The ministry stated that the crew members abandoned the ship using lifeboats and were rescued by Omani naval forces. Following the Revolutionary Guards’ attack, an explosion occurred at the ship’s stern, causing a fire in the engine compartment where three other crew members were working.