On the night of June 6, tensions in the Persian Gulf reached a critical point. Despite an active ceasefire, US military forces detected the launch of Iranian drones towards the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. In response, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted a strike operation on Iranian territory.
Attack on the Strait and Retaliation
According to an official post on social media platform X, CENTCOM forces shot down four Iranian attack drones. The command emphasized that these unmanned aerial vehicles posed a direct threat to regional maritime shipping, which served as the justification for the use of military force.
As a retaliatory measure, US troops struck Iranian Coast Guard facilities. The targets included radar stations in the city of Goruk and on Kish Island. The command's statement noted that these actions were aimed at preventing further attacks. The US also warned that it is prepared to repeat the strikes if necessary.
Cycle of Escalation
This incident is not an isolated event. This is not the first clash between the parties during a period when a ceasefire is officially in effect. Just a few days earlier, on the night of June 3, the situation in the region also escalated.
At that time, the sides also exchanged fire: the US attacked an oil tanker heading to Iran through the Strait of Hormuz and struck Kish Island. In response, Iran launched drones and missiles towards Bahrain and Kuwait. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have struck the US Fifth Fleet headquarters and an airbase in the Middle East, however, the US command refuted this data, asserting that all targets were intercepted.
The question of who exactly initiated the escalation on the night of June 3 remains open, however, the series of incidents indicates an extremely fragile balance of power in the region.