US military forces shot down four Iranian attack drones and struck a ground control station near Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, marking a significant escalation in hostilities that sent shockwaves through crypto markets. Bitcoin fell below $77,000 as traders scrambled to de-risk.
The strikes, which US officials characterized as defensive measures to protect American personnel and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, come just days after similar operations on May 26 that targeted Iranian missile sites and maritime assets. Washington insists the ceasefire established in April remains intact. Tehran disagrees.
What happened on the ground
US forces intercepted four Iranian drones and then hit the ground control station near Bandar Abbas that was reportedly preparing to launch a fifth.
The Bandar Abbas strike is particularly notable because it represents offensive action on Iranian soil, not just defensive interception in international waters. Shooting down drones in the sky is one thing. Hitting infrastructure inside a sovereign nation’s borders is another.
