NewsWorldUS hits Iranian targets after drone strikes cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz The US military hit Iranian missile and radar sites on June 26 after Iran fired drones at a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh doubts over a ceasefire signed just nine days earlier.
3 min readJun 27, 2026 04:54 AM IST
First published on: Jun 27, 2026 at 04:54 AM IST
Cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz. (File Photo)
The United States military struck Iranian targets on Friday after Iran fired drones at commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz the day before, in what President Donald Trump called a direct breach of their ceasefire agreement.
US Central Command said American aircraft hit Iranian missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar positions. Officials told CNN and the New York Times the operation lasted roughly 90 minutes and covered four sites
three along the coast and one on Qeshm island in the Persian Gulf, carried out by F-35s and F-16s. What triggered the strikes
Trump said on Truth Social that Iran fired at least four one-way attack drones at ships in the strait. One hit the upper deck of a large cargo ship, while the US knocked down the other three.
Tankers and cargo vessels are seen in the Gulf of Oman, along shipping routes linking the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea. (PTI))
The ship that was struck was the M/V Ever Lovely, a Singapore-flagged vessel exiting the strait along the Omani coast. Its owner, Evergreen Marine, said the attack damaged the bridge windows but no one was hurt and the cargo was safe. The main engine and all navigation equipment kept working, and the ship’s ability to sail was not affected.
Trump’s words before the strikes
When reporters asked Trump at the White House whether Iran would face any consequences, he gave a short answer: “You’ll find out.” Story continues below this ad
“I don’t like the fact that they took a shot yesterday,” he said. “They shouldn’t be doing that.”
Earlier that morning on Truth Social, Trump had been sharper: “Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement,” he wrote.
What the ceasefire said
The US and Iran agreed on June 17 to stop hostilities under a 14-point memorandum of understanding, which also called on Iran to use its best efforts to allow commercial vessels to pass through the strait without charge for 60 days.
US Central Command said Friday the drone attack on the Ever Lovely “clearly violated the ceasefire” and that Iran’s actions “undermined freedom of navigation” in a waterway that carries a large share of the world’s oil and gas.
(With inputs from agencies)
The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.
A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.
All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.
Core Team
The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:
Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, internationa
U.S. strikes targets in Iran after Iranian drone attack on cargo ship, posing challenge to ceasefire CBS News
US says it struck Iran targets after attack on cargo ship in the strait of Hormuz The Guardian
Discussion (0)