US Strikes Iran Again After Drone Hits Oil Tanker in Hormuz

U.S. forces conducted additional strikes against multiple targets in Iran on June 27 after a drone hit a Panama-flagged tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said.

The M/T Kiku, carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil, was hit by a one-way attack drone at 4:30 a.m. ET, according to CENTCOM. The command said it ordered the strikes “in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping.”

U.S. aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities and minelayer capabilities, CENTCOM said. The command said Iran had been given a chance to honor a ceasefire agreement but “elected not to.”

There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. — President Donald Trump

President Donald Trump said the U.S. could be “forced to militarily complete the job,” warning the Islamic Republic “will no longer exist” if that happens.

Commercial transits through the strait continue, CENTCOM said.

The strikes are the latest in an escalating exchange since the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 to extend a 60-day ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.

Since then, CENTCOM says Iran has struck two commercial vessels — the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 and the M/T Kiku on June 27. U.S. forces hit Iranian military sites on June 26 in response to the first attack, then again on June 27.

Iran’s military said it retaliated against U.S.-linked targets, according to Iranian state media, and Bahrain, which hosts a U.S. base, condemned what it called an Iranian drone attack on its territory early June 27.

This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.