US strikes missile, drone facilities in Iran over Strait of Hormuz attack

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — US Central Command said it carried out airstrikes against sites inside Iran on Friday evening in retaliation for an attack a day earlier on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes targeted missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar sites inside Iran, CENTCOM said. The earlier attack involved a one-way kamikaze drone strike against the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely while it was sailing off the coast of Oman, according to the command. CENTCOM described the assault as "unjustified aggression," calling it a clear violation of a ceasefire agreement and a threat to the safety of global maritime commerce. The command said Iran was weakening freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz during a period of intensified commercial traffic through the waterway. It added that US forces would continue to ensure the safe passage of commercial ships and maintain necessary coordination in the area. CENTCOM said American forces remain fully prepared and on alert to enforce compliance with all terms of the agreement, prevent potential violations and deter further escalation in the region.