US strikes Iranian drone, missile sites after attack in Strait of Hormuz
New Delhi: The US on Friday once again attacked Iran. The US forces hit Iranian missiles and drone storage sites. The attack came after the US accused Iran of striking a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. This fresh US attack has threatened to derail the already fragile ceasefire between the 2 warring nations, which have been at loggerheads since February this year.
US President Donald Trump declared that the Iranian attack on the cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz was a clear case of violation of the ceasefire. The US Central Command, in a separate statement, meanwhile, said that the strikes were a response to “unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces.” They also reiterated Trump’s point that the attack was a violation of the ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.
The Central Command described the American attack as a “powerful response to yesterday’s attack on a commercial ship which was transiting the Strait of Hormuz.” They also confirmed that the US had attacked Iran’s missile and drone sites, besides coastal radar sites.
Iran confirms attack, vows response.
Meanwhile, Iranian state TV confirmed the attack. It said that an explosion was heard at Taherouyeh pier in the southern port city, late Friday. Quoting military sources, they reported that a projectile struck the area, causing the blast.
The attack on Iran came just hours after US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, had said that “you will come to know when the US will respond to the drone strike on the cargo ship by Iran”. He had also earlier described the Iranian attack as a “foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement.”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has vowed to respond to the US attack. They said that any further US military attack would trigger a broader response. They also confirmed that they had targeted several locations hosting US military deployments across the region and cautioned Washington against launching additional attacks, signalling the potential for further escalation.
Iran, meanwhile, has warned ships not to cross the Strait of Hormuz without its permission. However, ships have continued to cross the Strait via an unauthorised route.
The US and Iran have been fighting since February 28 after a missile struck Tehran. More recently, however, the 2 countries have tried to negotiate a peace agreement and agreed to a ceasefire. But clearly the ceasefire remains fragile.
