Summary:

Between 25 and 28 June 2026, Iran and the United States engaged in a rapid series of military exchanges centered on the Strait of Hormuz, directly challenging a fragile ceasefire and memorandum of understanding established earlier in June. The confrontation began with an Iranian drone strike on the Singapore-flagged containership M/V Ever Lovely, followed by U.S. airstrikes on Iranian military infrastructure. Iran escalated by targeting the Panama-flagged oil tanker M/T Kiku and subsequently launched missile and drone attacks on U.S. military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. Both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire, with official statements emphasizing the defensive and retaliatory nature of their actions. No large-scale casualties have been confirmed, but the exchanges have heightened regional tensions and placed ongoing diplomatic efforts under significant strain.

 

Detailed Report

1. Initial Iranian Drone Strike on M/V Ever Lovely (25 June 2026)

Iranian forces, attributed by the United States to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, launched a one-way attack drone that struck the Singapore-flagged containership M/V Ever Lovely, operated by Evergreen Marine. The attack occurred approximately 7.5 nautical miles southeast of Dahit, Oman, as the vessel exited the Strait of Hormuz. The drone impacted the starboard side, damaging the bridge and upper deck. No crew casualties were reported, and the vessel completed its transit safely.

2. First U.S. Retaliatory Airstrikes on Iranian Targets (26 June 2026)

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted precision airstrikes targeting Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites near Sirik, Qeshm Island, and Bandar Abbas. CENTCOM described the operation as a “powerful response” to the attack on commercial shipping and a “clear violation of the ceasefire.” The strikes were directed at capabilities used to threaten maritime traffic. No casualty figures were specified in open reporting.

3. Second Iranian Drone Strike on M/T Kiku (Early 27 June 2026)

In the early hours of 27 June, Iranian forces launched another one-way attack drone that struck the Panama-flagged oil tanker M/T Kiku, which was transiting near the Strait of Hormuz carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil. No crew casualties were confirmed in open reporting.

4. Second Wave of U.S. Airstrikes on Iranian Military Infrastructure (27 June 2026)

CENTCOM conducted a second round of strikes, this time targeting a broader set of Iranian military assets, including surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities. CENTCOM stated that “Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to” when it attacked the M/T Kiku. No casualty figures were specified in open reporting.

5. Iranian IRGC Missile and Drone Strikes on U.S. Facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain (27–28 June 2026)

The IRGC launched a joint missile and drone operation targeting U.S. military facilities at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters/Port Salman area in Bahrain. The IRGC claimed to have destroyed or damaged eight significant infrastructures, describing the action as a “decisive response” to U.S. strikes on Iranian territory. U.S. officials confirmed the attacks but reported no U.S. casualties or major damage in initial assessments. Kuwait and Bahrain condemned the strikes as violations of their sovereignty.

6. Official Statements from Both Sides

  • President Donald Trump described the initial Iranian drone attack as a “foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement.”
  • Vice President JD Vance stated, “Violence will be met with violence” in response to further attacks.
  • CENTCOM characterized the U.S. strikes as a “powerful response” to a “clear violation of the ceasefire” and warned that continued violations could prompt stronger U.S. responses.
  • The IRGC framed its strikes on Kuwait and Bahrain as “legitimate retaliation” and a “decisive response” to U.S. attacks on Iranian territory, warning that further aggression would be met with a “crushing” or broader response.
  • Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated that U.S. strikes “violated the UN Charter and the bilateral memorandum.”

 

Conclusion

Between 25 and 28 June 2026, Iran and the United States conducted a series of tit-for-tat strikes centred on the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces struck the Singapore-flagged containership M/V Ever Lovely on 25 June and the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku in the early hours of 27 June. The United States responded with airstrikes on Iranian military targets on 26 and 27 June. Iran then launched missile and drone attacks against U.S. facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain on 27–28 June. Both sides accused the other of violating the existing ceasefire. While no large-scale casualties have been confirmed, the events have heightened regional tensions and placed the fragile ceasefire under severe strain.