U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes against Iran on Friday as part of what officials described as a “powerful response” to Iran’s attack on Thursday of a commercial ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Officials, in a press release on Friday afternoon, said that U.S. forces struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites after Iran hit the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 with a one-way attack drone as it was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast.
“The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire,” CENTCOM said. “Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor.”
CENTCOM said that forces continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait, adding, “The U.S. military remains present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect.”
President Donald Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social that “the Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing [sic] the Strait of Hormuz.”
“One of the Drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive Cargo Carrying Ship,” Trump wrote. “Damage was done, but the Ship was able to proceed on its way. We knocked down three other Drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement.”
He had not publicly commented Friday after CENTCOM reported its retaliatory strike.
Attacks by Iran and the U.S. come as negotiations remain ongoing between both nations’ delegations, most recently exemplified by U.S. Vice President JD Vance meeting with counterparts in an effort to bolster the so-called Memorandum of Understanding that was crafted to put an end to the war that began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Almost immediately after the MOU was made public, Israel began striking Lebanon and put the ceasefire at risk. It led to reported disputes between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in addition to top Israeli officials publicly stating that the U.S.-Iran agreement has no real bearing on their territory and military operation against Hezbollah.
U.S. military posture remains strong in the region as assets include two aircraft carriers, 17 guided-missile destroyers, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and more than a dozen air squadrons operating at sea, according to Fox News, citing a U.S. defense official.
UPDATED 5:58 p.m. ET, 6/26/26: This story was updated with additional information.
