US strikes coastal sites in Iran after shooting down drones near Strait of Hormuz

The US military conducted airstrikes on Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and Qeshm Island following the downing of four Iranian one-way attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command stated the drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic and that the strikes were a defensive response to 'unjustified Iranian aggression.' Iran’s semiofficial Mehr news agency reported that the country fired warning shots near the Strait of Hormuz, possibly related to US naval vessel repositioning. The target of the Iranian fire was at sea, beyond Larak Island, off the coast of Bandar Abbas, though social media claims of attacks in the city were dismissed as unfounded. The escalation comes amid ongoing tensions, with a top Iranian official telling CNN that a potential peace deal hinges on the US releasing $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets. The official warned that further conflict could push the US into 'a dark corridor.' In a separate development, former US President Donald Trump claimed he is 'moving very fast' on resolving the Iran conflict, now in its third month. Trump dismissed earlier timelines of four to six weeks, comparing the situation to the Vietnam War, and suggested frustration with Iran’s actions, including the recent drone launches toward the Strait of Hormuz. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized Iran in a CNN interview, accusing Tehran of using his war-torn country as a 'bargaining chip' in its conflict with the US and Israel. The comments highlight regional concerns over Iran’s influence and the broader implications of the escalating tensions.