The United States Central Command has announced a new round of military strikes against Iran as tensions continue to rise in the region.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, CENTCOM said its forces began launching the strikes at about 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday.

According to the command, the operation is aimed at further weakening Iran’s capacity to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM added that the strikes were ordered by the Commander-in-Chief to hold Iranian forces accountable for alleged threats to maritime security and freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway.