The U.S. military launched airstrikes against Iranian targets Friday after Tehran attacked a commercial cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions despite a recent ceasefire agreement between the two nations.
President Donald Trump said Iran fired at least four drones at ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with one striking a large cargo vessel’s upper deck. Trump warned Iran would face consequences, stating “You’ll find out” when asked by reporters about potential retaliation.
The Military Response
U.S. Central Command confirmed it conducted strikes against Iranian military targets, including missile and drone storage facilities and radar sites. A U.S. official told CBS News that six land-based aircraft struck four separate targets along the Strait of Hormuz and on Iran’s Qeshm Island.
CENTCOM described the operation as a “powerful response” to Iran’s attack on commercial shipping. “The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire,” the command said in a statement.
BREAKING: The U.S. military has launched airstrikes on Iranian targets after an attack on a cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM says the strikes targeted drone and missile storage sites, along with radar installations. A senior U.S. official tells Fox News the operation was… pic.twitter.com/C2Sa2Ma4NQ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 26, 2026
What Sparked the Confrontation
The escalation began when Iran attacked a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. A U.S. official confirmed the drone strike damaged the ship’s bridge, though no injuries or environmental damage were reported.
The attack violated a 14-point memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran earlier this month. Under the agreement, Iran agreed to use its “best efforts” to ensure safe, toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days while both sides negotiate a broader agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and regional security.
Tensions Over Implementation
Disputes have emerged over how the ceasefire agreement should be implemented. The United States supports routing ships through the southern portion of the strait near Oman’s coastline, while Iran insists vessels use routes closer to its own shores.
Vice President Vance issues a stark warning to Iran, saying further attacks will be met with force following U.S. strikes on Iranian targets along the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/qqaxbkiK59
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 27, 2026
Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority warned Thursday that vessels using routes outside those designated by Iranian authorities would not receive safe-passage guarantees or insurance protections. The disagreement threatens the fragile peace arrangement that had increased commercial shipping and lowered global oil prices.
Diplomatic Uncertainty
Vice President JD Vance, who led the ceasefire negotiations, defended the military response Friday. “Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it,” Vance wrote on social media. “If they have disagreements about how the memorandum of understanding is being applied, they can pick up the phone. But violence will be met with violence.”
The strikes mark the first direct U.S. military action against Iran since the ceasefire agreement. The renewed military engagement raises questions about the future of ongoing diplomatic negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent agreement over the next 60 days.
This story has been updated. CNN’s reporting team contributed to this report.
