Washington, June 27: The United States has launched airstrikes on Iranian military installations following an attack by Tehran on a Singapore-flagged commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. This marks Washington’s first direct military response since a ceasefire agreement was reached earlier this week between the two nations.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that Iran targeted the MV Ever Lovely with a one-way attack drone on June 25. In retaliation, U.S. forces targeted Iranian missile and drone storage sites, as well as coastal radar installations. The commercial vessel was exiting the Strait of Hormuz near the Omani coast when it was struck.
In a statement, CENTCOM emphasized, “The attacks conducted on June 26 were a robust response to the assault on the commercial ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz.”
The statement further noted that the U.S. military aircraft acted in response to the drone attack on the MV Ever Lovely. The strikes aimed at Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, along with coastal radar sites.
CENTCOM classified the attack on the merchant vessel as a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement. It stated, “The Iranian military’s unwarranted attack on commercial shipping is a blatant breach of the ceasefire. Moreover, Iran’s reckless behavior has undermined freedom of navigation, as commerce increasingly traverses this vital international trade corridor.”
The U.S. Central Command assured that it will continue to safeguard commercial shipping through this strategic waterway. They stated, “CENTCOM forces are coordinating and collaborating to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels transiting the Strait. The U.S. military remains vigilant to ensure compliance with all terms of the agreement with Iran.”
Hours before the operation, President Donald Trump condemned the Iranian attack on the cargo ship. Speaking to the media in the Oval Office, he remarked, “I don’t like that they shot at it yesterday. They shouldn’t have done that.”
Earlier, Trump had posted on social media that Iran launched four one-way attack drones at vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed that U.S. forces intercepted three of the drones, while the fourth struck the cargo ship.
He stated, “Clearly, this is a foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement.”
Iran did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack on the vessel. However, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing Iranian state media, a projectile struck a telecommunications tower in the Sirik port area over the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S. retaliation.
The newspaper reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any further foolishness would be met with a strong response, aimed at dispelling aggressors in the region.
According to The Washington Post, the Revolutionary Guard also claimed to have thwarted a part of the U.S. operation, forcing American forces to retreat. However, there was no immediate confirmation from the U.S. military.
The New York Times reported, citing U.S. officials involved in the operation, that the American strikes lasted about 90 minutes and were intended as a retaliatory measure rather than a resumption of large-scale combat operations.
This latest development comes just days after an agreement between the U.S. and Iran, which called for the cessation of military operations and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while both parties would begin discussions on Iran’s nuclear program and other stalled issues. The attack on the MV Ever Lovely and the subsequent U.S. response have raised new questions about the sustainability of this fragile agreement.
Leave a Comment