US launches new strikes on Iranian military targets after tanker drone attack

Sunday 28 June 2026 - 14:45

By: Sahili Aya

US launches new strikes on Iranian military targets after tanker drone attack

The United States has carried out a new series of military strikes against targets inside Iran, responding to what American officials described as an Iranian drone attack on a commercial oil tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation targeted multiple military assets, including surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense installations, drone storage facilities and equipment believed to be associated with naval mine deployment. The strikes were presented as a direct response to the attack on the M/T Kiku, a Panama-flagged tanker transporting more than two million barrels of crude oil through one of the world's most strategically important maritime corridors.

US military officials stated that the retaliatory operation was intended to protect freedom of navigation and deter further attacks against commercial shipping in the Gulf region. Despite the renewed military action, CENTCOM said commercial maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues without interruption.

The latest strikes follow an earlier round of US attacks conducted on Friday, marking a further deterioration in relations despite a memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran on June 17. That agreement established a ceasefire framework and launched negotiations aimed at achieving a more durable peace after weeks of regional confrontation.

The recent escalation raises fresh concerns about stability in the Gulf, where the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints. A significant share of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports passes through the narrow waterway, making any disruption a matter of international economic importance.

Under the terms of the June 17 memorandum, commercial vessels were to benefit from toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz during an initial 60-day period as a confidence-building measure between the two countries. The renewed exchange of military actions, however, has cast uncertainty over the durability of that arrangement.

International observers are closely monitoring developments, as continued hostilities between the United States and Iran could affect regional security, global energy markets and maritime trade. While both sides have previously expressed support for diplomatic engagement, the latest military exchanges underscore the fragile nature of the current ceasefire and the challenges facing ongoing negotiations.