US Strikes Iran After Strait of Hormuz Attack as Ceasefire Tensions Escalate

Tensions in the Middle East have surged after the United States launched military strikes against Iran on Friday, targeting missile and drone facilities near the Strait of Hormuz and on Qeshm Island. This forceful response came a day after an Iranian drone attacked the Singapore-flagged commercial cargo vessel, M/V Ever Lovely, in the crucial waterway. The incident represents a major challenge to the fragile ceasefire agreement between the two nations, which was meant to de-escalate months of conflict and ensure safe passage for maritime trade. This exchange of blows puts the recently extended 60-day ceasefire agreement, signed on June 17, 2026, on extremely shaky ground. Both US President Donald Trump and Iranian officials have accused each other of violating the terms, with Trump calling Iran drone attack a 'foolish violation'. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies and a significant portion of the world's liquefied natural gas, had only recently seen a resumption of normal shipping traffic after being closed for months due to previous hostilities. The attack and subsequent US retaliation threaten to unravel efforts to stabilize one of the world's most vital maritime trade routes. Looking ahead, the immediate concern is preventing further escalation that could plunge the region back into a broader conflict and severely disrupt global oil supplies. Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned of a 'broader response' if US aggression is repeated. International bodies like the UN's International Maritime Organization had to pause efforts to evacuate hundreds of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf, underscoring the severe impact on maritime trade. All eyes are now on diplomatic channels and any further actions from either side, as the world holds its breath to see if this ceasefire can be salvaged, or if the region is headed for another dangerous chapter.