The US military struck Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday after Tehran attacked a commercial vessel the day before, according to US Central Command. The move marked a sharp response to renewed tension around one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes.
CENTCOM said US aircraft hit missile and drone storage sites as well as coastal radar positions. The command said the attack on commercial shipping by Iranian forces “clearly violated the ceasefire.”
Pressure around the strait is rising again
A US official told CNN that Friday’s strikes do not signal a return to major combat operations, at least for now. Even so, the exchange has unsettled hopes that traffic through the waterway could fully normalize after months of conflict.
President Donald Trump called the drone attack on the ship a “foolish violation” of the agreement to end the war with Iran, but he gave no public indication that the episode would trigger broader hostilities. When asked whether Iran would face consequences, he told reporters in the Oval Office, “You’ll find out.”
Trump first addressed the attack hours after it happened, saying on Truth Social that Iran had fired at least four “One Way Attack Drones” at ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. He said one drone hit a large cargo ship and that three others were brought down.
“Damage was done, but the Ship was able to proceed on its way,” he wrote. “We knocked down three other Drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement.”
Washington keeps its response ambiguous
Later, Trump said the strike showed Iran still has military capability despite the monthslong US war. Speaking to a crowd of conservative Christians in Washington, DC, he said, “We still have a fight. They have some capability, not much. They’re not winning or anything, but they have some capability; they can still shoot.”
He also said, “Nobody saw it coming,” adding that the attack hit a ship and caused damage. During the Oval Office event, he would not say how or whether the United States might respond, and he abruptly dismissed reporters after repeated questions.
US Central Command later pointed back to Trump’s statement when asked about the attack. The Department of Defense also posted three American flag emojis above a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social message on X.
Trade through the Strait of Hormuz remains fragile
The incident was the first of its kind since the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to open the strait and begin more detailed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Trump has said little about resuming the war, which he acknowledged last week could have led to “economic catastrophe” if it had continued.
Iran has treated control of the waterway as a major point of leverage in negotiations. On Thursday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that safe passage would only be given to ships via routes declared to Iran.
The US-Iran agreement said traffic in the strait would return to prewar levels, but it did not spell out detailed terms for how that would happen. The two sides also disagree over whether Iran can charge fees for passing vessels, with Trump insisting the strait should remain toll-free and Tehran saying it has the right to collect fees.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, the cargo vessel was hit on its starboard side by an unknown projectile, damaging the bridge. No casualties or environmental impact were reported.
This headline and story have been updated with additional developments.
