Washington: The United States has launched airstrikes on Iranian military targets after Tehran allegedly attacked a Singapore-flagged commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, marking Washington's first direct military response since the two countries agreed to a ceasefire earlier this week.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes targeted Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, along with coastal radar installations, following Iran's attack on the M/V Ever Lovely with a one-way attack drone on June 25.
The vessel was attacked while it was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast.
"CENTCOM forces conducted strikes against Iran on June 26 as a powerful response to yesterday's attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz," the command said in a statement.
It said US aircraft struck "Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites after Iran hit M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 with a one-way attack drone."
CENTCOM said the attack on the merchant vessel "clearly violated the ceasefire."
"The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire. Furthermore, Iran's dangerous behaviour undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor," it said.
The US military said it would continue protecting commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.
"CENTCOM forces continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait. The US military remains present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect," it added.
Hours before the operation, US President Donald Trump criticised Iran's attack on the cargo vessel.
"I don't like the fact that they took a shot yesterday," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "They shouldn't be doing that. You'll find out."
Earlier, Trump wrote on social media that Iran had launched four one-way attack drones at ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. He said US forces intercepted three of them, while the fourth struck the cargo ship.
"Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement," he wrote.
Iran did not immediately acknowledge responsibility for the attack on the vessel.
However, The Wall Street Journal, citing Iranian state media, reported that projectiles struck a telecommunications tower in Sirik, a port overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, following the US retaliation.
The newspaper quoted Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as warning that "any new folly will be met with a strong response that will shatter the illusions of the aggressors in the region."
According to The Washington Post, Iran's Revolutionary Guard also claimed that it had thwarted part of the US operation and forced American forces to retreat, though there was no immediate confirmation from the US military.
The New York Times reported that the US strikes lasted around 90 minutes and were intended as a retaliatory measure rather than a resumption of major combat operations, citing US officials familiar with the operation.
The latest exchange comes only days after Washington and Tehran agreed to halt hostilities following weeks of military confrontation.
The ceasefire framework called for an end to military operations, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the start of negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme and other outstanding issues.
Friday's attack on the M/V Ever Lovely and the subsequent US retaliation have now raised fresh questions over the durability of the fragile agreement.
With IANS inputs