The U.S. military carried out strikes against Iranian targets, including missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar positions, in response to an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The strike on the ship, which occurred on Thursday, was carried out by a one-way attack drone and resulted in no reported casualties.
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) described the strikes as a "powerful response" to what it called "unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces," which it stated clearly violated a recent ceasefire. The incident prompted the planned evacuation of more than 11,000 sailors from the region.
President Donald Trump had accused Iran of a "foolish violation" of its truce prior to the announcement of the strikes. When asked by reporters about a potential U.S. response, Trump stated, "You'll find out." He added, "I don't like the fact that they took a shot yesterday. They shouldn't be doing that."
Centcom noted that Iran's actions "undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor." The command also affirmed that the U.S. military would "continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait."
The U.S. and Iran had agreed on June 17 to end hostilities under a memorandum of understanding. This agreement included a provision for Iran to use its "best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days." The recent attack on the cargo ship occurred just days after this period began.
Earlier in the year, following U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran, Tehran had effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil and gas shipments. This closure led to a rise in global oil prices and disrupted shipments of commodities like fertilizer. The U.S. military has pledged to continue supporting commercial vessels in the strait.