WASHINGTON — The U.S. carried out airstrikes on Iranian military targets Friday, hours after accusing Iran of launching a drone attack against a commercial cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, the first direct U.S. military action against Iran since the two countries agreed to extend a fragile ceasefire.
The strikes targeted missile and drone storage facilities and radar sites, U.S. Central Command said. In a statement, the military said the operation was in response to what it called Iranian actions against commercial shipping. "The unprovoked aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces was a clear violation of the ceasefire," CENTCOM said.
A U.S. official said that American warplanes struck several sites along the Strait of Hormuz and on Qeshm Island. Six land-based aircraft took part in the operation, hitting four different targets, the official said.
The attacks occurred a day after an assault on a Singapore-flagged cargo ship. The drone attack was carried out by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a U.S. official said. British maritime authorities said the vessel's bridge was damaged but reported no casualties or environmental damage. The ship was hit off the coast of Oman.
US President Donald Trump condemned the attack, saying it was a violation of the ceasefire deal between Washington and Tehran. Trump told reporters, "You'll find out” when asked if Iran would be punished.
The incident prompts fresh questions about the durability of the cease-fire agreement reached earlier this year. The deal between the two countries was said to have included pledges to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most crucial shipping routes.
The deal called for Iran to use its best efforts to enable commercial transit through the waterway for a period of 60 days. The deal was said to have boosted shipping activity and eased fears of supply disruptions, driving down oil prices.
But disputes over navigation routes through the strait have continued. The United States has called for shipping routes further away from Oman’s shores, while Iran has demanded that ships continue to coordinate with Iranian authorities and travel closer to its coast.
Iranian officials have also hinted that commercial ships could face additional demands once the temporary arrangement ends, a concept dismissed by the United States and some regional partners.
The latest military exchange could make negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program more difficult. Previous violations had tested the ceasefire, but the United States had resisted the temptation to mount another large-scale military operation against Iran.
“Iran signed a ceasefire agreement,” said Vice President JD Vance, who has been involved in the negotiations, adding that “Iran should resolve disputes through diplomatic channels.” “It is honoured," Vance wrote on social media. If they disagree on the implementation of the agreement, they can simply pick up the phone. But violence will be met with violence.”
The developments add to the uncertainty of diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran and could heighten tensions in a region vital to global energy supplies.
