CENTCOM warns Iranian civilians to evacuate ports — civilian ports used for military ops lose protected status

US Central Command issued a formal warning to Iranian civilians working at ports along the Strait of Hormuz, urging them to evacuate immediately. 'US forces urge civilians in Iran to immediately avoid all port facilities where Iranian naval forces are operating. Iranian dockworkers, administrative personnel, and commercial vessel crews should avoid Iranian naval vessels and military equipment,' CENTCOM stated. The warning continued: 'The Iranian regime is using civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz to conduct military operations that threaten international shipping. This dangerous action risks the lives of innocent people. Civilian ports used for military purposes lose protected status and become legitimate military targets under international law.' CENTCOM added that it 'cannot guarantee civilian safety in or near facilities used by the Iranian regime for military purposes' but would 'continue taking every feasible precaution to minimize harm to civilians.' The formal civilian evacuation warning is the standard US military precursor to strikes — identical warnings were issued before strikes on IRGC facilities in Iran, Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon, and PMF bases in Iraq. Issuing this warning for Iranian civilian ports signals imminent US strikes on IRGC-used port facilities along the Strait of Hormuz. Combined with the earlier destruction of 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels, this represents the US systematically dismantling Iran's ability to weaponize Hormuz.