US strikes Iranian radar sites after downing four drones near Hormuz

Yesterday 08:00

By: Dakir Madiha

US strikes Iranian radar sites after downing four drones near Hormuz

The United States military said it intercepted and destroyed four Iranian one-way attack drones on Friday as they approached the Strait of Hormuz, before launching retaliatory strikes against Iranian coastal radar installations. The latest exchange marks another escalation in months of military confrontation between Washington and Tehran across the Gulf region.

According to the US Central Command, the drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime operations. American forces subsequently targeted radar surveillance facilities in Goruk, located in Iran’s Hormozgan province, and on Qeshm Island. US officials said the strikes were intended to prevent further attacks and protect military assets operating in the area.

The incident capped a week of rising tensions between the two countries. Earlier, US forces helped intercept Iranian ballistic missiles and drones. On June 1, American forces struck radar facilities and drone command centers in the same locations after Iran shot down a US MQ-1 drone flying over international waters. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later claimed responsibility for retaliatory strikes against a US-linked air base. During the week, Iranian missile attacks landed near Kuwait International Airport, reportedly killing at least one person and injuring more than 60 others. Iranian officials also said military targets linked to the United States in Bahrain had been struck.

Diplomatic efforts have failed to halt the cycle of retaliation. A ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on April 8 has repeatedly come under pressure as both sides continue exchanging military strikes. Speaking to reporters on Friday, President Donald Trump said the conflict was “largely over” but suggested that a tougher approach remained possible if diplomacy failed. Iranian adviser Mohsen Rezaei stated that progress in negotiations would depend on the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets by the United States.

The conflict has also generated political debate in Washington. The US House of Representatives recently passed a war powers resolution requiring congressional approval for any prolonged military operations against Iran or a withdrawal of American forces. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi linked the broader confrontation to ongoing fighting involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, arguing that regional hostilities remain interconnected.

With no clear diplomatic breakthrough in sight, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz remain high. The waterway handles roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments, making any military escalation in the area a significant concern for international energy markets and regional security.