The United States military launched a second wave of airstrikes against Iranian targets on June 27, responding to what it says was a drone attack on a commercial oil tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The operation, confirmed by U.S. Central Command, came just hours after Iranian forces allegedly struck the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku, which was carrying over 2 million barrels of crude oil near the waterway around 4:30 a.m. ET Saturday.
CENTCOM officials stated that Iran had been given an opportunity to adhere to a ceasefire agreement following U.S. retaliatory strikes a day earlier but instead chose to continue its attacks on commercial shipping. In response, American aircraft targeted multiple military sites, including surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense positions, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities. The command emphasized that the operation was carried out at the direction of the Commander in Chief and was a direct response to Iran’s persistent aggression against merchant vessels.
The strikes follow U.S. military action on June 26, when American aircraft hit Iranian missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar installations after Iran attacked the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely in the same region. President Donald Trump condemned the latest Iranian action as a violation of the ceasefire agreement, calling it a foolish violation. Vice President JD Vance echoed this sentiment, warning that violence will be met with violence.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported on June 27 that a tanker had been struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, sustaining damage to its bridge but with all crew members safe. The Joint Maritime Information Center has since raised its maritime security threat level amid the escalating attacks. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global energy shipments, has remained a flashpoint since hostilities erupted between the United States, Israel, and Iran earlier this year. While commercial traffic has resumed under the ceasefire, repeated assaults on merchant vessels continue to threaten efforts to restore normal shipping through the waterway.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
