US Downs Iranian Drones Near Hormuz as Ceasefire Unravels
May 28, 2026
The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared close to collapse after both sides exchanged direct military strikes near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces shot down four Iranian attack drones that were allegedly threatening US troops and commercial shipping in the region. The US military also carried out a strike on a drone control facility in the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, claiming the site was preparing to launch a fifth drone.
CENTCOM described the operation as “measured” and “purely defensive,” saying the action was intended to protect regional security and preserve freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that US strikes had targeted areas near Bandar Abbas and claimed it retaliated by striking an American military base. However, Iranian officials did not specify the location of the alleged attack.
The latest exchange marks the most serious escalation since a temporary ceasefire between Washington and Tehran came into effect. Diplomatic efforts aimed at extending the truce now appear increasingly uncertain. Just days earlier, US President Donald Trump had indicated that negotiations for a 60-day extension were nearing completion, though the White House later dismissed Iranian media reports about a possible framework agreement.
