US launches new wave of strikes against Iran after promising to 'hit them hard'

Lead

The United States has launched a new wave of airstrikes against Iran, following a drone attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes, which targeted Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites, were confirmed by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Friday. The action came hours after President Donald Trump warned that the US would respond to what he called a "foolish violation" of the ceasefire agreement.

Explosions were reported in Iranian port cities, including Sirik and Bandar Abbas, according to Iranian state media. CENTCOM described the strikes as "a powerful response" to the drone attack, saying they were intended to "further degrade Tehran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation" in the vital waterway.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from multiple outlets converge on the core facts: the US military conducted strikes on Iranian targets after a drone attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Al Jazeera reported that the US renewed attacks against Iran, targeting missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites. The Guardian noted that the strikes were in response to an Iranian drone attack on a commercial ship, while BBC reporting highlighted that explosions were heard across Iran and that the US targeted military sites and communications networks.

TASS, citing a US official and NBC News, reported that the new strikes were more extensive than previous ones and were carried out using Air Force and Navy tactical aircraft. TASS also reported that President Trump approved the strike plan while in Turkey for a NATO summit, a detail not mentioned in other reports.

The reports differ slightly on the scale and targets of the strikes. While most sources mention missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar sites, one BBC report additionally mentioned communications networks. TASS described the strikes as "more extensive than the previous ones," a characterization not present in other outlets' coverage. The BBC also reported that the strikes were part of a "ninth consecutive night" of attacks, a detail that suggests a longer campaign than the single-day strikes described elsewhere.

Key Claims

• US strikes on Iranian targets: Multiple outlets, including Al Jazeera, BBC, and The Guardian, report that the US military conducted strikes on Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites. This is corroborated by CENTCOM statements cited in the reports.

• Response to Iranian drone attack: The strikes are widely reported as a response to an Iranian drone attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The ship, identified by Al Jazeera as the Ever Lovely, was struck by a one-way attack drone on Thursday, with no casualties reported.

• Explosions in Iranian port cities: BBC and Al Jazeera report explosions in port cities including Sirik and Bandar Abbas, as reported by Iranian state media.

• Extended strikes reported: TASS, citing a US official and NBC News, reports that the strikes were more extensive than previous ones, using Air Force and Navy tactical aircraft. This claim is not confirmed by other outlets.

• President Trump's approval: TASS, via Axios, reports that President Trump approved the strike plan while in Turkey. Other reports note Trump's warning that the US would "hit them hard again tonight" but do not detail the approval process.

• Ceasefire context: Sources note that the strikes follow a June 17 memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, which aimed to end hostilities and ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The drone attack is seen as a violation of that agreement.

Perspectives

The coverage includes statements from both US and Iranian officials, though Iran's official response to the latest strikes is yet to be reported.

US perspective: President Trump and CENTCOM frame the strikes as a defensive response to Iranian aggression against commercial shipping. Trump said the US would "hit them hard again tonight" and called the drone attack a "foolish violation" of the ceasefire. CENTCOM stated that Iran's behavior "undermined freedom of navigation" and that the US is "holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression."

Iranian perspective: While Iran has not officially commented on the latest strikes, the BBC reported that Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X: "We do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action: fearlessly and with great valour." The BBC also reported Iranian claims of a "surprise attack" in Syria and targeting of US aircraft at Jordan's Aqaba airport. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that the Strait of Hormuz "will not be safe for the transit of petrochemical products, nor even a single drop of oil and gas" as long as US strikes continue, and threatened a "punitive operation."

TASS reported that Iran's Foreign Ministry previously called US strikes a violation of the UN Charter and the agreements between Tehran and Washington, but this predates the current round of strikes.

Correction: This article initially stated that the US launched strikes on Friday. The reports indicate that strikes occurred over multiple days, with the latest wave on a Friday, but the timeline varies across sources. The article has been updated to reflect the ongoing nature of the strikes.