US airstrikes on Iran were carried out on Friday after Washington accused Tehran of attacking a commercial cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz with a one-way attack drone. The strikes mark a renewed escalation in tensions despite a recently announced ceasefire agreement between the two countries.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American aircraft targeted Iranian missile and drone storage facilities along with coastal radar sites. The military said the operation was conducted in response to the June 25 attack on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely, which was transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz near the Omani coast.
CENTCOM stated that the drone attack on the commercial vessel violated the ceasefire understanding and threatened freedom of navigation through one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes. The command added that US forces remain deployed in the region to ensure the agreement is upheld and international shipping remains protected.
US President Donald Trump also accused Iran of launching multiple one-way attack drones at commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Shortly before the military operation, Trump hinted at an imminent response when asked whether Iran would face consequences for the incident.
Iranian media reported an explosion at the Taheroi pier in the southern city of Sirik shortly after the US strikes. A military source quoted by local media said a projectile struck the pier, while warning shots and missiles had earlier been fired toward vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as part of maritime security operations.
US airstrikes on Iran come at a sensitive moment as both countries had recently agreed to a ceasefire aimed at reducing hostilities in the Middle East. The latest exchange has raised fresh concerns over regional stability and the security of one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
International observers are closely monitoring developments as tensions continue to rise. While Washington describes the operation as a defensive response to protect commercial shipping, Tehran has condemned the strikes, increasing uncertainty over the future of the fragile ceasefire agreement.
