Pakistan, June 6 -- Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated sharply on Saturday after US forces struck Iranian coastal surveillance sites following the interception of drones launched toward the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Read More: Iran fires warning missiles at US warships

According to the US military, four Iranian drones were shot down after being detected near the vital shipping route. The US Central Command later announced strikes on Iranian radar and surveillance facilities located on Qeshm Island and in the Goruk area, saying the sites were linked to monitoring activities in the strait.

An American official told Reuters that the drones were believed to be targeting maritime traffic operating in the r...