The United States military has carried out strikes on multiple Iranian targets following an attack on a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries.

According to the U.S. Central Command (Centcom), the strikes targeted a range of Iranian military assets, including surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.

The operation was described as a direct response to an earlier incident in which a commercial tanker was struck by a projectile while transiting the strategically critical waterway.

Centcom said the attack occurred after Iran launched a one-way attack drone that hit the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku, which was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil near the Strait of Hormuz.

In its statement, Centcom said Iran had been given an opportunity to comply with a ceasefire agreement but chose instead to escalate hostilities.

The latest exchange of strikes comes amid a fragile 60-day ceasefire arrangement intended to ease tensions while diplomatic negotiations continue. However, both Washington and Tehran have accused each other of violating the agreement in recent days.

Bahrain also condemned a separate Iranian drone strike, calling it a “blatant violation” of its sovereignty, further increasing regional concerns about widening instability.

Despite the military escalation, Centcom stated that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues, though the situation remains highly volatile. The waterway is one of the world’s most important routes for global oil transport.

Earlier in the week, additional incidents involving commercial vessels were also reported in the region, including a drone strike on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Ever Lovely, which was struck near the coast of Oman but continued its journey.

The ongoing cycle of attacks highlights the fragile nature of the ceasefire and raises fresh concerns about further escalation between the United States and Iran in a strategically vital region.