US Strikes Iran After Drone Attack on Cargo Ship
Photo: REUTERS
United States military launched targeted strikes against Iran on Friday, responding to an Iranian drone assault on a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it executed a “powerful” attack focusing on Iranian “missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites”.
This military escalation follows a strike on the cargo ship Ever Lovely, an incident President Donald Trump characterized as “a foolish violation” of existing agreements.
US Vice President JD Vance addressed the situation on X, emphasizing that the US has maintained its commitments under the current memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Vance posted, “Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it. If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone,” before warning that “Violence will be met with violence”.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) condemned the American military action, asserting that Washington has “as always, violated its commitments”.
In a direct counter-response, the IRGC stated its navy targeted regional sites where US forces are deployed. IRGC issued a stern warning, “If the aggression is repeated, our response will be more extensive.”
Ebrahim Azizi, the head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Committee, echoed these sentiments on X. Azizi claimed President Trump “has shown he has no commitment to the principles of negotiation or a ceasefire” and labeled the US strikes a “reckless violation of the ceasefire”.
The surge in violence comes despite a US-brokered “framework agreement” recently signed by Israel and Lebanon, which Washington hopes will end the “cycle of endless conflict”.
However, the deal faces significant domestic pushback in Lebanon. Hezbollah rejected the agreement, with one lawmaker stating the framework will only “serve the interests” of Israel.
Source: Al Jazeera (adapted)
