U.S. launches strikes against Iran following attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. launched strikes against Iran on Friday in response to drone attacks on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week, which President Donald Trump called a violation of the ceasefire agreement, U.S. Central Command said. A U.S. aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations as well as coastal radar sites, Central Command said in a news release. Iran allegedly shot at least four drones at ships traveling through the Strait on Thursday, Trump said on Truth Social Friday morning. One of those hit the upper deck of a cargo carrying ship, and the U.S. knocked down the three other drones, he said. The ship that was struck was the M/V Ever Lovely, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast, according to U.S. Central Command. “Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement,” Trump said. “The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire,” Central Command said. “Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor.” The ceasefire agreement was signed just last week, and stipulates that the Strait of Hormuz — a vital waterway through which some 20% of the world’s oil passed before the war — will reopen and that Iran agrees to allow safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days. When asked whether Iran could face any consequences after allegedly violating the ceasefire, Trump told reporters at the White House earlier on Friday afternoon, “You’ll find out.” “I don’t like the fact that they took a shot yesterday,” the president added. “They shouldn’t be doing that. So, you’ll find out.”