By Gloria Ogbonna
The United States launched a series of military strikes against Iranian targets on Friday in what U.S. officials described as a “powerful response” to Iran’s reported attack on a commercial cargo ship traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions despite a recently signed ceasefire agreement.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes targeted Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, along with coastal radar installations believed to have supported Thursday’s attack on international shipping. American officials said the military action was intended to deter further aggression and reinforce freedom of navigation through one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that Iranian forces launched “at least four” one-way attack drones at commercial vessels attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. The attack occurred just days after a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining a ceasefire agreement had been signed.
According to Trump, U.S. forces successfully intercepted and destroyed three of the incoming drones. However, a fourth drone struck the upper deck of the Ever Lovely, a commercial cargo vessel operated by a Singapore-based subsidiary of Taiwan’s Evergreen shipping company.
Although the vessel sustained damage, Trump said it was able to continue its voyage and safely exit the strait without any reported injuries or fatalities among the crew.
“Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement,” the president wrote, accusing Iran of undermining the recently negotiated truce.
The attack also disrupted international maritime operations. Following the strike on the Ever Lovely, the United Nations suspended plans to evacuate ships that had remained stranded in the Persian Gulf. The cargo vessel itself had reportedly been trapped in the region for more than 100 days before attempting to transit the waterway.
In a statement released Friday afternoon, CENTCOM confirmed the U.S. military response.
“U.S. aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites” following what officials described as Iran’s “unwarranted aggression,” the command said.
CENTCOM further stated that the drone attack on commercial shipping represented a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement and posed a threat to international commerce.
“The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire,” the statement read. “Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor.”
Military officials emphasized that U.S. forces will continue escorting and protecting commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest energy and shipping routes. CENTCOM added that American forces remain “present and vigilant” to ensure compliance with the ceasefire agreement and to respond swiftly to any future threats against international shipping.
Earlier on Friday, before news of the military strikes became public, President Trump hinted that Iran would face consequences for the attack when questioned by reporters.
“You’ll find out,” Trump said when asked whether the United States planned to respond.
“I don’t like the fact that they took a shot yesterday,” he added. “They shouldn’t be doing that. So, you’ll find out.”
The latest exchange marks another escalation in the long-running tensions between Washington and Tehran. While U.S. officials maintain that the strikes were a direct response to Iran’s actions against civilian shipping, the incident raises new questions about the durability of the recently announced ceasefire and the future security of commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies and international trade.
Source Breitbart
Original article
Comments