U.S. Strikes Iran Again After Iranian Drone Attack on Panama-Flagged Tanker in Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. military struck Iran again after a tanker was reportedly hit in the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. Central Command saying its forces carried out fresh strikes after a Panama-flagged tanker was attacked by an Iranian drone early on Saturday.

“US strikes on Iran test fragile ceasefire Iran and the United States have traded attacks in the Gulf, raising fears that the fragile ceasefire between the two countries is unravelling”

Al Jazeera

CENTCOM said the strikes were "in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping" and targeted Iranian military surveillance, communications, air defence, drone storage and mine-laying facilities.

Al Jazeera

USA Today said CENTCOM launched the June 27 operation after Tehran allegedly carried out a new drone attack on the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku around 4:30 a.m. ET Saturday, with the tanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil near the Strait of Hormuz.

The BBC reported that on Friday the U.S. struck missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar positions after President Donald Trump accused Iran of a "foolish violation" of its truce following an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

CNN added that the new strikes came in response to a drone launch early Saturday morning and an attack earlier this week on a cargo ship in the strait, further straining the initial U.S.-Iran agreement to restore normal marine traffic.

Vice President JD Vance warned that "violence will be met with violence" if Iran carries out any further attacks, as Al Jazeera reported the U.S. and Iran traded blame for the latest exchange.

Al Jazeera quoted the IRGC saying, "If the aggression is repeated, our response will be broader than this," as it described Iran’s retaliation after U.S. strikes on Iranian missile, drone and radar facilities.

Al-Jazeera Net

The Independent reported that JD Vance said the U.S. has adhered to the ceasefire deal, also known as a memorandum of understanding, and warned, "violence will be met with violence."

In the same dispute, the BBC said Bahrain’s foreign ministry condemned what it called "several Iranian drones" early on Saturday and described the action as a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty.

NBC News said U.S. Central Command launched additional strikes on Saturday hours after Iran said it had struck U.S.-linked targets in retaliation for American attacks the day before.

CENTCOM said "Commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz continue" even as the U.S. and Iran accused each other of violating the interim ceasefire, according to the Guardian’s account of the Saturday strikes.

“US strikes Iran after attack on cargo ship The US military has conducted strikes on Iranian targets after President Donald Trump accused Iran of a "foolish violation" of its truce following an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz”

BBC

The Guardian said the U.S. would continue to enforce the shaky ceasefire with Iran even as disagreements have emerged over the terms of Iran’s nuclear program, the question of tolls in the strait of Hormuz, and other issues including Iran’s ballistic missiles program.

CNN reported that the Lebanon conflict was also entangled with the fragile ceasefire, noting that Israel’s military launched a drone attack in southern Lebanon on Saturday and that Lebanon’s Health Ministry said it killed one person.

The Independent said oil prices fell about 3 per cent on Friday on course for steep weekly losses as oil tankers exited the Strait of Hormuz, and it added that Saudi Aramco resumed crude loadings at its Ras Tanura terminal after a nearly four-month halt.

In parallel, the BBC said the U.S. and Iran agreed on 17 June to end hostilities under a 14-point memorandum of understanding calling for Iran to use its "best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days."