U.S. Hits Iranian Site Near Strait of Hormuz in Second Strike

U.S. forces carried out another round of military strikes on Iran on Thursday, May 28, 2026, hitting a strategic site in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. The operation marks the second such strike in three days and comes as tensions remain high despite a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

According to U.S. Central Command, the target was a military facility preparing to launch a drone attack near the Strait of Hormuz. Centcom said American forces also intercepted and destroyed four Iranian one-way attack drones deemed an immediate threat to international shipping lanes. Officials stated the Bandar Abbas site was struck moments before it could deploy a fifth drone. Iranian state-linked media reported explosions in the eastern part of the city shortly after the incident.

Centcom described the operation as “measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire,” insisting the strikes were carried out strictly in self-defence. This follows U.S. attacks on Monday, May 25, 2026, which targeted Iranian missile installations and naval units accused of attempting to deploy mines in the Strait.

Iran strongly condemned the latest strikes, calling them a “grave violation of the ceasefire” and warning it would not leave any act of aggression unanswered. The confrontation has further strained fragile diplomatic efforts between both nations.

Tensions have widened beyond Iran, with Kuwait reporting that its air defence systems intercepted “hostile missile and drone threats” on Thursday. Details from Kuwaiti officials remain limited.

Alongside military action, Washington intensified economic pressure. The U.S. Treasury imposed new sanctions on the so-called “Persian Gulf Strait Authority,” an Iranian body managing shipping payments through the Strait of Hormuz. Officials warned that any vessel dealing with the agency could face punitive measures.

The Strait of Hormuz remains critical to global trade, with nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passing through it. Disruptions have already sent shockwaves through energy markets.

Iranian officials insist the fees collected are legitimate charges for maritime services. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Tehran of attempting to “extort global maritime trade.”

The crisis has unfolded alongside conflicting signals from Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump has alternated between warning of renewed large-scale military action and suggesting a deal with Iran is still possible, though he admitted the U.S. is “not satisfied” with the current state of negotiations.

Despite reports of progress in recent diplomatic discussions, both sides acknowledge no final agreement has been reached. The White House has dismissed Iranian claims of a near-final draft deal as “a complete fabrication.”

As military activity continues and diplomacy stalls, fears are growing that the fragile ceasefire could collapse entirely, potentially dragging the region into a wider conflict with global economic consequences.