Why US, Iran Keep Attacking Each Other Despite Ceasefire? Timeline Of Strikes In 96 Hours

Last Updated:May 29, 2026, 02:48 IST

The conflict witnessed a dramatic escalation after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack targeting a US military base in Kuwait.

Even as backchannel negotiations continue to extend the fragile ceasefire and possibly bring the wider West Asia conflict to an end, both the United States and Iran remain locked in an escalating cycle of strikes and counterstrikes that threaten to derail the talks altogether.

The latest flare-up has highlighted the deep uncertainty surrounding the slow-moving negotiations aimed at formally ending hostilities, although neither Washington nor Tehran appears willing to return to a full-scale war at this stage.

The conflict witnessed a dramatic escalation after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack targeting a US military base in Kuwait, just a day after American forces carried out strikes that destroyed a drone ground-control station in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas near Strait of Hormuz.

The latest exchange marked the most serious military confrontation since the ceasefire came into effect in April, rattling diplomatic efforts to negotiate a permanent end to the war and drawing in key US ally Kuwait, which condemned the Iranian strike as a “dangerous escalation."

At the same time, several US-based media outlets reported that Washington and Tehran had tentatively agreed to extend the ceasefire by another 60 days as negotiations continue. However, the proposed arrangement has not yet received formal approval from US President Donald Trump or Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Here’s A Timeline Of Attacks By US, Iran In Last 4 Days

• US Strikes Mine-Laying Vessels – May 25

US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched localised “defensive" airstrikes near the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. The operation targeted active Iranian missile launch sites and fast-attack boats attempting to lay fresh sea mines in the shipping lanes. Iranian state media later confirmed four Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) troops were killed.

• Strait of Hormuz Ship Interceptions – May 27

At approximately 12:35 AM local time, Iranian naval forces fired warning shots at four commercial vessels attempting to traverse the Strait of Hormuz without coordination. The IRGC forced the ships to turn back, effectively tightening their grip on the vital choke point.

• US Drone Swarm and Counterstrike – May 27

At 10:17 PM ET, a swarm of Iranian one-way attack drones targeted US naval assets. CENTCOM forces successfully shot down four drones. Seconds later, US jets launched a counterstrike, destroying an active IRGC ground control station in Bandar Abbas just as it prepared to launch a fifth drone.

• US Ballistic Missile Retaliation in Kuwait – May 28

The strike in Bandar Abbas prompted Iran to target “the American airbase that served as the source of the attack", according to IRIB, citing the country’s Revolutionary Guards.

The Guards did not specify the location of the base, but Kuwait, which hosts US troops, said its air defences had responded to incoming fire.

Its foreign ministry later condemned “the criminal Iranian attacks that targeted the territory of the State of Kuwait with missiles and drones, in a dangerous escalation".

The US Central Command called the attack an “egregious ceasefire violation".

• Iran’s Warning Missiles At 4 Vessels Near Hormuz – May 28

Iranian forces fire “warning shots" at vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian media. The incident took place at around 12:35 a.m. local time, when the vessels allegedly attempted to enter the Persian Gulf without informing Iranian security forces.

Reasons Behind These Attacks

The latest military flare-ups between the United States and Iran are closely tied to the escalating confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most critical energy chokepoint through which nearly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies transit. Following the outbreak of the conflict in late February, Iran used its strategic geographical position to disrupt commercial shipping through the Strait, severely affecting energy exports from Gulf countries and pushing global crude oil prices above $100 per barrel.

In response, the Trump administration deployed major naval assets to the Gulf and effectively imposed a maritime blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to choke Tehran’s remaining revenue streams and pressure Iran into accepting Western demands over its nuclear programme and regional activities. Recent US strikes near Hormuz appear aimed at forcing Iran into strategic retreat and demonstrating that Washington is willing to maintain military pressure even during ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

However, Iran’s retaliatory drone launches, missile strikes and maritime pressure tactics indicate that Tehran is unwilling to back down despite the economic and military pressure campaign. The standoff has effectively turned into a dangerous deadlock, with neither side prepared to lift its blockade first. Washington continues to refuse to ease sanctions or release frozen Iranian assets until Tehran scales back its nuclear programme, while Iran is using calibrated military retaliation to signal that it still retains the ability to disrupt global trade and energy flows if its demands are ignored.

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