The United States military has launched airstrikes targeting sites in Iran for the second time in three days amid renewed exchange of fire between the two countries.

The U.S. Central Command confirmed the operation in a statement on Tuesday, stating that the strikes are in response to recent alleged attacks on American service members and commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Today at 12 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran.

“The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region,” the command said.

After almost a month-long pause in hostilities between the two countries, the U.S. targeted Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran on American bases across the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump has also confirmed that the latest operation in Iran was underway, while warning Iran against launching retaliatory responses.

“The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian Targets near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes are large and powerful, and in retaliation for the Iranians’ failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!), and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our Military Base in Jordan,” Mr Trump said.

“If the failed nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!” he added.