US forces attacked Iranian military facilities after Iran launched “unprovoked” missile, drone and small boat attacks against American warships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
It termed the attacks as self-defence strikes. CENTCOM said it does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.
Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats as USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87) transited the international sea passage to the Gulf of Oman. No US assets were struck, it said.
The CENTCOM eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking US forces including missile and drone launch sites; command and control locations; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes, it added.
However, President Donald Trump said the "ceasefire is going. It’s in effect.”
Following the strikes, President Donald Trump warned Iran against escalating tensions further and to sign a deal soon.
“We’ll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their Deal signed, FAST!” he wrote in his Truth Social post.
"Three World Class American Destroyers just transited, very successfully, out of the Strait of Hormuz, under fire. There was no damage done to the three Destroyers, but great damage done to the Iranian attackers.
"They were completely destroyed along with numerous small boats, which are being used to take the place of their fully decapitated Navy. These boats went to the bottom of the Sea, quickly and efficiently.
"Missiles were shot at our Destroyers, and were easily knocked down. Likewise, drones came, and were incinerated while in the air. They dropped ever so beautifully down to the Ocean, very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave!
"A normal Country would have allowed these Destroyers to pass, but Iran is not a normal Country. They are led by LUNATICS, and if they had the chance to use a Nuclear Weapon, they would do it, without question — But they’ll never have that opportunity and, just like we knocked them out again today, we’ll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their Deal signed, FAST!
"Our three Destroyers, with their wonderful Crews, will now rejoin our Naval Blockade, which is truly a “Wall of Steel,” Trump said.
A spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces was quoted by CNN as saying US airstrikes hit civilian areas along the coasts of Qeshm Island, Bandar Khamir and Sirik.
He also claimed that the US violated the ongoing ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker heading toward the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran responded with “reciprocal action” by attacking US military vessels east of the strait and south of the port of Chabahar, the spokesperson said in a video address carried by state media.
