US forces have bombed Iran this evening as a "powerful response" to yesterday’s attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
US military confirmed an aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites, after Iran hit M/V Ever Lovely on Thursday with a one-way attack drone.
The Singapore-flagged cargo ship was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast at the time of Tehran's attack, which served as a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.
A US Central Command spokesman said: "Iran's dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor.
"Centcom forces continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait.
"The US military remains present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect."
Following Iran's initial attack, Donald Trump took to his TruthSocial platform to condemn Iran for breaking the weeks-old ceasefire by attacking the tanker.
The President said: "One of the drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive cargo-carrying ship. Damage was done, but the ship was able to proceed on its way."
US aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites (stock image)
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Mr Trump revealed three of the four craft used to strike the vessel were shot down, and added: "Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement."
Iranian media has confirmed the fresh retaliation strike by the US, describing a projectile struck the area around a pier in Sirik in southern Iran this evening.
The IRGC threatened a "swift and decisive" counterattack to the US strikes on Sirik, saying: "We declare the repulsion of an attack launched by American forces on Sirik Island."
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The IRGC said: "Our naval and air forces succeeded in neutralizing this attack and forced the invading forces to retreat to protect Iran's sovereignty over its land and waters.
"We emphasize that this aggression will not go unanswered, and our response will be swift and decisive at a time and place of our choosing.
"We warn that any further folly will face a harsh response that will shatter the aggressors' delusions in the region."
Just moments before news of the strikes broke, President Trump said "you'll see" when asked if the US would respond to Thursday's attack - which prompted a planned evacuation of more than 11,000 sailors stuck in the region.
Speaking to reporters at the White House before the strike, Mr Trump initially failed to detail how the US might respond to Thursday's attack, or whether he viewed the ceasefire as still intact.
"You'll find out," he said, "I don't like the fact that they took a shot yesterday. They shouldn't be doing that."
After the conflict began at the end of February, Tehran effectively closed the strait, blocking the critical waterway for oil and gas shipments and causing a spike in global oil prices.
The US and Iran reached an agreement on June 17 in a bid to end hostilities under a 14-point memorandum of understanding.
Thursday's attack on a US vessel in the Strait of Hormuz prompted the retaliation
| GETTYThe deal had called for Iran to use its "best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days".
Two days of turbulence come as Donald Trump's top diplomat Marco Rubio made progress on striking a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon after talks in Washington.
It is thought to herald a limited withdrawal of Israeli forces from two areas in southern Lebanon, but does not include Beaufort Castle, which Israel seized in its deepest incursion into the country for decades.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said forces "will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon".