The United States carried out military strikes on Iranian missile, drone storage, and coastal radar sites on Friday. The action came a day after Iran targeted a cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military said the operation responded to Iran’s latest attack and aimed to protect international shipping in one of the world’s busiest trade routes.

The U.S. Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that its forces launched the strikes after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely on Thursday. The vessel was leaving the Strait of Hormuz and sailing near the coast of Oman when Iran launched a one-way attack drone at it.

According to Centcom, the drone hit the ship and damaged its starboard side and bridge. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre, which is linked to the British Royal Navy, said the attack caused damage to the vessel but did not injure anyone on board.

Centcom accused Iran of breaking the fragile ceasefire through the attack on the commercial vessel. The military also raised concerns about the impact of the strike on international trade and maritime security.

“Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behaviour undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor,” Centcom said in a statement.

The U.S. military also said its forces continue to support commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Centcom stated that it provides “safe passage coordination and support” to vessels using the waterway. Around 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas supplies move through the strait, making it one of the most important trade routes in the world. The command added that U.S. forces remain deployed in the region and continue to monitor the situation closely. It said the military “remains present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed and in full force and effect.”

A Pentagon official told The Hill that the U.S. military operation ended at 5:30 p.m. EDT on Friday.

Iran also issued a fresh warning on Friday regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The country said it holds authority over the strategic waterway and stated that ships must coordinate with Tehran to ensure safe passage.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi shared the warning on the social media platform X. He said any effort to challenge Iran’s role in the region could lead to restrictions on the route.

“Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with ambiguous arrangements, parallel routes, or decision-making outside of Iran’s considerations as the coastal state, cannot be guaranteed,” the deputy foreign minister said on social platform X.

On Friday, President Donald Trump responded to questions about the attack while speaking in the Oval Office. Reporters asked whether Iran would face consequences after targeting the cargo ship. Trump suggested that the United States could consider further action but did not give specific details.

“We’ll find out,” he said.

Trump also criticised Iran’s decision to target the vessel and stressed that such attacks should not happen.

“I don’t like the fact that they took a shot yesterday. Actually four. Not an allied ship, but a ship. A very expensive ship and it was fine, but it took a little beating. They shouldn’t be doing that,” Trump said.