The U.S. military said it carried out strikes against Iranian military targets after Tehran allegedly launched a drone attack on a commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions despite recent diplomatic efforts to preserve a fragile ceasefire.
The United States Central Command said late Friday its forces conducted what it described as a “strong response” after Iran targeted the Singapore-flagged cargo ship MV Our Lovely with a one-way attack drone while the vessel was leaving the Strait of Hormuz and sailing along the coast of Oman.
According to CENTCOM, U.S. aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage facilities as well as coastal radar sites used to monitor maritime traffic. The command said the attack on the merchant vessel threatened freedom of navigation and violated the recently agreed ceasefire.
Donald Trump said Iran had launched at least four attack drones toward commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He said U.S. forces intercepted three of them, while one drone struck and damaged the cargo vessel. Trump described the incident as a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire and warned Tehran that Washington would respond.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rejected the U.S. account, claiming its naval and air defense forces had repelled the American attack and forced the attacking aircraft to withdraw. In a statement, the Guards warned that the U.S. strikes “will not go unanswered” and vowed a “swift and decisive” response at a time and place of Iran’s choosing.
Iranian state media reported explosions near the southern coastal town of Sirik, with officials saying several projectiles struck an area near Tahrouyi port on the Gulf coast.
The confrontation comes as Washington and Tehran continue attempting to preserve a ceasefire reached after weeks of direct military confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States. While diplomatic contacts have continued, both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement, raising concerns that renewed military exchanges could derail efforts to revive broader negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments. Shipping companies and international governments have closely monitored security in the waterway, warning that attacks on commercial vessels could disrupt global energy supplies, increase freight costs and further destabilize regional security.