The United States Central Command (Centcom) reported that it carried out a series of bombings against Iranian positions during the day on Friday, June 26. This as a retaliatory measure for the attack perpetrated by Iran against a commercial vessel, linked to Evergreen, that was sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.
“U.S. aircraft struck Iranian drone and missile storage sites, as well as coastal radars, after Iran struck the M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 with a one-way attack drone (kamikaze drone). The Singapore-flagged cargo vessel was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the coast of Oman at the time of the Iranian attack,” Centcom stated.
“The unjustified aggression by Iranian forces against commercial navigation clearly violated the ceasefire. Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation at a time when trade is increasingly flowing through this vital international commercial corridor,” it added.
Given this scenario, Centcom emphasized that they will continue “providing safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait. The U.S. military remains present and vigilant to ensure that all aspects of the agreement with Iran are complied with, respected, and maintained in full force and effect.”
In response to the incident, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) suspended the evacuation of hundreds of vessels and thousands of crew members stranded in the conflict zone since February 28.
Meanwhile, after the aggression, Tehran reaffirmed its right to control navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and warned its Gulf neighbors not to align with the United States.
