By Gloria Ogbonna
The United States has carried out a new wave of military strikes against multiple Iranian targets after a Panama-flagged oil tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
On Saturday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American forces launched precision strikes against Iranian military infrastructure after Tehran allegedly violated a ceasefire agreement by carrying out another drone attack on a commercial vessel.
According to CENTCOM, the latest operation targeted a range of Iranian military assets, including surveillance facilities, communications systems, air defense positions, drone storage sites, and naval minelaying capabilities. U.S. officials said the strikes were intended to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten international shipping and to deter further attacks on commercial vessels operating in the region.
“CENTCOM forces launched strikes today in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping,” the military command said in a statement. “U.S. military aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.”
The latest military action followed an attack on the Panama-flagged oil tanker M/T Kiku, which was reportedly carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil. CENTCOM said the vessel was struck by a one-way attack drone at approximately 4:30 a.m. Eastern Time while transiting near the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. officials stated that Iran had been given an opportunity to honor the ceasefire agreement following earlier American strikes but instead chose to launch another attack.
“After yesterday’s U.S. strikes in response to the Iranian attack on M/V Ever Lovely, Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. ET,” CENTCOM said. “The Panama-flagged tanker was transiting near the Strait of Hormuz with more than two million barrels of crude oil.”
The incident marks the second reported attack on commercial shipping in the area within days. Earlier this week, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was accused of attacking the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel M/V Ever Lovely while it was sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to U.S. officials, the vessel was struck by an Iranian one-way attack drone. However, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center described the incident as involving an “unknown projectile” that struck the ship approximately 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahit, Oman. The attack reportedly damaged the vessel’s bridge but caused no injuries among the crew and no environmental pollution.
Following that incident, American forces launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian missile storage facilities, drone launch sites, and coastal radar installations. CENTCOM said those operations were aimed at protecting freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
Military officials stressed that Iran’s repeated attacks on commercial shipping pose a direct threat to global trade and regional stability. CENTCOM also reiterated that Tehran had been offered an opportunity to de-escalate tensions after Friday’s strikes but instead chose to violate the ceasefire by carrying out another drone attack.
The renewed military exchanges have raised concerns about the possibility of a broader regional conflict, as governments and international shipping companies closely monitor security conditions in the Gulf.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump also addressed the growing tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking earlier this week, Trump warned that any attempt by Iran to impose tolls, insurance fees, or other charges on vessels traveling through the strategic waterway would be unacceptable and could jeopardize ongoing diplomatic negotiations.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran had assured the United States that it was not seeking to collect any fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise.
“Iran has informed the U.S. that, despite troublemaking Fake News reporting to the contrary, there are ‘NO TOLLS, NO INSURANCE COSTS, & NO OTHER CHARGES OF ANY KIND BEING SOUGHT OR RECEIVED BY IRAN ON SHIPS TRAVELING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ,’” Trump wrote.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s busiest and most strategically significant maritime chokepoints, serving as a critical route for global energy exports. Any disruption to shipping in the area has the potential to impact international oil markets and increase geopolitical tensions across the Middle East.
As the situation continues to unfold, international leaders are urging restraint while closely watching for any further military actions that could threaten regional security and the uninterrupted flow of global commerce.
Source: Breitbart
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