The United States launched retaliatory military strikes on Iranian military facilities on Friday-Saturday after Iran attacked a commercial cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, marking a fresh escalation in tensions despite a fragile ceasefire reached between the two countries last week.
The US Central Command said American forces targeted Iranian missile and drone storage sites, along with coastal radar installations, describing the operation as a response to Iran's attack on a container ship transiting the strategic waterway on Thursday.
According to US officials, the operation lasted about 90 minutes and involved fighter jets striking four locations along the Strait of Hormuz, including sites on Qeshm Island. Washington described the strikes as a limited retaliatory action rather than the resumption of a broader military campaign.
President Donald Trump strongly condemned Iran's attack, calling it a "foolish violation" of the ceasefire. In a social media post, he said Iran had launched four one-way attack drones, one of which struck the upper deck of a large cargo ship. He added that US forces intercepted the remaining three drones and that the damaged vessel was able to continue its voyage.
The targeted ship, identified as the Ever Lovely, was sailing near Omani waters when it was hit. The incident is believed to be the first Iranian attack on a commercial vessel since the preliminary peace agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Iran accused the United States of violating the ceasefire through its retaliatory strikes. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any further American military action would invite a stronger response. Iranian state media also claimed Tehran had launched strikes against US military positions in the region, although there was no immediate confirmation from the Pentagon.
The latest confrontation has renewed concerns over shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil and gas transit routes. Following the attack, the International Maritime Organization suspended efforts to assist hundreds of vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf. Shipping data showed a sharp decline in vessel movements through the strait, while some oil tankers reportedly turned back after Iranian warnings.
The dispute also reflects continuing disagreements over the implementation of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding. While both sides have agreed to restore commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, they differ over who should regulate marine traffic. Iran maintains that, as a coastal state, it has the authority to manage shipping in the waterway, while the US and Gulf nations insist on unrestricted international navigation without tolls or additional controls.
The renewed exchange has raised fears that the ceasefire could unravel, threatening global energy supplies and maritime trade through one of the world's most strategically important shipping lanes.