The United States launched fresh military strikes on Iran on Friday, hours after President Donald Trump accused Tehran of committing a “foolish violation” of a ceasefire agreement by attacking a commercial cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to US officials, Iran launched four one-way attack drones targeting commercial vessels transiting the strategic waterway. One drone struck the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely, causing damage to the vessel’s upper deck. No injuries were reported, and the ship continued its voyage along the Omani coast. Three other drones were intercepted by US forces.
US Responds with Airstrikes
Confirming the operation, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American aircraft carried out strikes against Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, as well as coastal radar installations, in response to the attack.
“US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes against Iran… as a powerful response to yesterday’s attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” the command said in a statement.
CENTCOM stated that the targeted facilities were linked to Iran’s missile and drone capabilities and accused Tehran of violating the ceasefire by attacking commercial shipping.
“The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire. Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor,” the statement said.
The command added that US forces would continue escorting commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and remain deployed to ensure compliance with the ceasefire agreement.
Trump Warns Iran
Speaking to reporters at the White House before the strikes, President Trump warned Iran that it would face consequences for the attack.
“You will find out. I don’t like the fact that they took a shot yesterday, actually, four. We knocked down three… A very expensive ship took a little beating. They shouldn’t be doing that,” Trump said.
Earlier, in a post on Truth Social, Trump alleged that Iran had fired four attack drones at ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, describing the incident as a clear breach of the ceasefire.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz. One of the Drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive Cargo Carrying Ship,” Trump wrote.
“Damage was done, but the Ship was able to proceed on its way. We knocked down three other Drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement,” he added.
Strait of Hormuz in Focus
The latest escalation has renewed concerns over security in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes. Approximately one-fifth of global oil exports and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas pass through the narrow waterway each day.
The incident comes despite a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed earlier this month between Washington and Tehran, which was intended to reduce tensions and facilitate negotiations on a broader peace agreement.
Under the agreement, Iran pledged to make its “best efforts” to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz during a 60-day negotiation period. The MoU also established a direct communication channel between the United States and Iran to prevent military incidents and reduce the risk of miscalculation.
Ceasefire Under Strain
Despite the agreement, Iranian officials have maintained that Tehran retains authority over the future management of the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has also insisted that vessels transiting the waterway must follow routes approved by Iran.
The latest drone attack, followed by US retaliatory strikes, has raised fresh uncertainty over the fragile ceasefire and cast doubt on ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions between the two countries.
