US and Iran exchange strikes and accuse each other of violating ceasefire

June 28, 2026

The United States and Iran have engaged in a dangerous cycle of military strikes, with each side accusing the other of breaking their recently signed ceasefire agreement. The conflict escalated after Iran attacked a Panama-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting US airstrikes on Iranian military installations, which Iran then answered with missile and drone attacks on American bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Both nations had agreed to a ceasefire on June 17 through a Memorandum of Understanding that included provisions for safe commercial shipping passage through the strategic waterway.

Who is affected

Commercial shipping vessels (MT Kiku, MV Ever Lovely, and other ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz)
US military personnel stationed at Ali al-Salem base in Kuwait and Fifth Naval Fleet in Bahrain
Iranian military forces at coastal posts and facilities near the Strait of Hormuz
Citizens of Kuwait and Bahrain
The US and Iranian governments
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

What action is being taken

US fighter jets are conducting strikes on Iranian military targets including equipment, communication systems, air defense sites, and drone storage facilities
Iran's IRGC is launching ballistic missiles and drones at US infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain
Kuwait and Bahrain are activating their air defense systems to counter hostile attacks
Commercial vessels are continuing to operate in the Strait of Hormuz

Why it matters

The escalating military exchanges between the US and Iran threaten a fragile ceasefire agreement that was only signed eleven days earlier and risk reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz to conflict. This waterway is critical for global oil and gas shipments, and its previous closure by Iran caused spikes in global oil prices and disrupted shipments of essential commodities like fertilizer. The breakdown of diplomatic progress could lead to wider regional conflict, with Trump threatening the complete destruction of Iran, while both nations' military actions endanger civilian populations in Kuwait and Bahrain and commercial shipping operations.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC