US Strikes Iran After ‘Unprovoked’ Attack on Destroyers

CENTCOM said the confrontation began with “unprovoked” Iranian attacks on U.S. Navy destroyers transiting the strait.

By United with Israel Staff

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz briefly erupted into open confrontation Thursday, as U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged strikes in a tightly contained clash that now appears to have subsided.

The United States carried out strikes on targets in Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, including an oil port on Qeshm, according to a senior U.S. official who spoke to Fox News.

The official described the action as limited, saying, “This is not a resumption of the war,” while noting it followed a series of recent regional attacks, including missile launches earlier this week toward the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.

Iran accused Washington of “violating the ceasefire,” claiming U.S. forces targeted an Iranian oil tanker and struck multiple coastal sites, including Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island. Iranian officials said their forces “immediately responded” by attacking U.S. military vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz and inflicting significant damage.

The U.S. military sharply disputed that account. United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said the confrontation began with “unprovoked” Iranian attacks on U.S. Navy destroyers transiting the strait.

According to the statement, USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason came under missile, drone, and small boat attacks as they moved through the international waterway toward the Gulf of Oman on May 7.

CENTCOM said U.S. forces intercepted the incoming threats and carried out self-defense strikes on Iranian military facilities, including missile and drone launch sites, command and control locations, and intelligence and surveillance nodes.

“No U.S. assets were struck,” the statement said, adding, “CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.”

President Donald Trump reinforced that message in a post on Truth Social, saying the three destroyers had transited the strait “very successfully, under fire,” with no damage sustained, while Iranian attackers were “completely destroyed.” He warned that the U.S. would respond more forcefully if a deal is not reached quickly.

Speaking separately to ABC News, Trump insisted the broader ceasefire remains intact. “The ceasefire is going. It’s in effect,” he said, describing the exchange as “just a love tap.”

In remarks to reporters, he added, “They trifled with us today. We blew them away,” while emphasizing that all incoming missiles and drones were intercepted.

Despite the exchange, officials on multiple sides signaled that the confrontation was deliberately contained. With U.S. forces now out of the immediate area and no further strikes reported, attention is shifting back to ongoing efforts to preserve the ceasefire, even as tensions in the region remain high.