U.S. Central Command forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones headed for the Strait of Hormuz on Friday evening, June 5, officials said. CENTCOM said the drones posed an immediate threat to ships moving through the narrow waterway, a critical route for global oil supplies.
In response, American forces struck two Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites, one in Goruk on the mainland and another on Qeshm Island. CENTCOM described the action as self-defense to prevent further attacks.
The drones were launched from Iranian territory and flew toward busy shipping lanes in the strait.
CENTCOM Says Drones Threatened Maritime Traffic
U.S. forces tracked them and brought all four down before they could reach their targets.
“The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” CENTCOM said in a statement. “U.S. forces subsequently struck Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island to defend against further attacks.”
No U.S. personnel were hurt. There were no immediate reports of casualties on the Iranian side from the radar strikes.
The Strait of Hormuz sits between Iran and Oman. It carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.
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Tankers pass through the 21-mile-wide channel every day, many carrying crude from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates.
The ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S. has resulted in disruption at the strait, which has sent ripples through energy markets worldwide.
This latest clash comes as a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran continues to fray. The two sides agreed to a short suspension in the major fighting that began earlier this year, but both have accused the other of repeated violations.
Iran has not yet commented publicly on Friday’s events. In previous incidents, Iranian officials have called U.S. strikes unprovoked aggression and claimed the right to defend their territorial waters.
Why Qeshm Island and Goruk Are Strategically Important
The radar sites hit by the U.S. help Iranian forces monitor air and sea traffic near the strait.
Qeshm Island, in particular, sits close to the shipping lanes and has served as a forward base for Iranian surveillance and drone operations.
U.S. officials say American forces remain ready to respond to any threats. “American forces remain vigilant and postured to respond to unjustified Iranian aggression in self-defense,” the CENTCOM statement added.
Lately, Iran has launched drones or missiles, mostly targeting American Forces and their military assets in the Middle East.
The U.S. responds by intercepting most of the drones and missiles, then strikes the launch or control sites on the ground. Each round raises fears that the ceasefire could collapse entirely.
Growing Concerns Over Strait of Hormuz Security
Shipping companies have grown more cautious since the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz began. Some vessels now take longer routes around Africa to avoid the area, adding time and cost to oil deliveries.
Insurance rates for ships passing through the strait have also risen due to mines that Iran planted under the seabed.
Qeshm Island stretches along Iran’s southern coast. It hosts both civilian ports and military facilities.
Goruk lies farther inland but provides radar coverage that feeds into the same network.
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This is not the first time Qeshm has been targeted. U.S. forces hit similar sites there in recent weeks after other Iranian drone activity.
Regional allies have been urging the U.S. and Iran to find a truce and end the costly war and restore the normal flow of ships through the Strait.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE depend heavily on the Strait for their exports.
The conflict between the U.S. and Iran dates back months. It increased after failed talks over Iran’s nuclear program and attempts to reopen the strait to normal traffic.
A U.S. naval blockade remains in place against Iranian ports.
Diplomats from Oman and Pakistan have attempted to mediate, but progress has been slow.
