US launches second night of strikes against Iran after ship struck by drone

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The attacks follow an Iranian drone allegedly striking a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.

Published On 27 Jun 202627 Jun 2026

For the second consecutive day, the United States has conducted military strikes against Iran, citing retaliatory measures in response to alleged attacks on commercial shipping lanes.

Saturday’s operations mark the latest escalation between U.S. forces and Iranian military assets, as tensions persist despite a June 17 memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at de-escalation in the region.

In an official military statement, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the strikes were authorized directly by the Commander in Chief, targeting key Iranian military infrastructure.

“CENTCOM forces executed precision strikes tonight in response to ongoing Iranian aggression against maritime commerce,” a CENTCOM spokesperson said. “The operation focused on disabling surveillance systems, command-and-control capabilities, air defense networks, drone storage terminals, and naval mine deployment assets.”

Reports indicate explosions were detected in southern Iran’s Tahrui region, near the port city of Sirik, which had previously been the target of Friday’s U.S. strikes.

Saturday’s offensive followed a pattern used in prior engagements. At approximately 5:45 AM local time, the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker Kiku was struck by an unidentified missile or drone while traversing the Strait of Hormuz. Witnesses confirm the vessel sustained damage near its hull, though no injuries or cargo leaks occurred, according to crew reports.

CENTCOM confirmed the tanker, which departed the Al Shaheen oil field on Thursday evening, was carrying over 2 million barrels of crude oil at the time of the attack. The vessel is expected to reach Fujairah Port in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

MarineTraffic.com tracking data confirms the ship’s last recorded location before the incident was near the Iranian coastline, placing it within contested airspace. No further details about the projectile or its origin have been disclosed by military authorities.

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