United States Central Command has carried out strikes on Iranian missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar positions in response to an Iranian drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM stated.
The strikes, conducted on 26 June, followed the previous day’s attack on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely, which was struck by a one-way attack drone while exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast. In a statement released from its headquarters in Tampa, Florida, the command said: “U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes against Iran, June 26, as a powerful response to yesterday’s attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites after Iran hit M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 with a one-way attack drone.”
CENTCOM said the Iranian strike on the cargo ship had violated the standing ceasefire between the two sides. “The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire,” the command said. “Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor.”
The command added that its forces continued to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait, with the statement saying: “CENTCOM forces continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait. 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.”
The earlier drone strike on the Ever Lovely did not produce reported casualties, but the incident prompted a planned evacuation of more than 11,000 sailors in the region from the wider merchant fleet operating in the area. Moments before the US strikes were announced, President Donald Trump told reporters that “you’ll see” when asked whether the United States would respond to the Iranian attack, with Trump having earlier accused Iran of what he called a foolish violation of the truce.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis told the RUSI Land Warfare Conference earlier this week that British armed forces were among those readying to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing the task alongside other operational demands including the protection of the seabed in the High North and the securing of the skies in the Middle East.
Trump’s winning again 🤔
Hmmm … uncertain whether the Mullahs and IRGC understand the concept of a cease-fire. Undoubtedly, however, they comprehend the concept of overwhelming force. Perhaps a very direct statement to the Iranians that their communication, energy production, energy generation, transportation, etc., systems could be in immediate jeopardy, would produce a more cooperative environment. And yes, perfectly aware that I would never be a successful diplomat.