Iran Attacked Three US Destroyer-Class Ships as They Transited the Strait of Hormuz

On May 7, the US military repelled Iranian attacks and launched retaliatory strikes in self-defense as three US Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman, according to a statement from US Central Command released late Thursday night.

“Iranian forces launched several missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and small boats as the ships USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87) transited this international waterway. None of the US ships were damaged,” the US military said.

Central Command forces “neutralized the approaching threats and struck Iranian military targets responsible for the attacks on US forces, including missile and drone launch sites, command and control centers, as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance nodes,” the statement said. Central Command “does not seek escalation but remains on the defensive and ready to defend US forces.”

The Iranian Armed Forces stated that the US military carried out airstrikes on Qeshm Island and two other cities on the country’s southern coast on Thursday. It was also reported that the US military targeted an Iranian oil tanker heading toward the Strait of Hormuz.

Explosions were also heard in Tehran. The state news agency IRNA reported two large explosions in western Tehran and the activation of air defense systems. Several residents of the city also wrote in text messages that they were awakened by the sounds of explosions that shook their homes, causing panic.

Iran, for its part, accused the United States of carrying out “unprovoked” attacks as the ships were passing through the strait. Iran’s Supreme Joint Military Command stated that the US had violated the ceasefire by attacking an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel, adding that it would not hesitate to respond decisively to any attack, Reuters reported.

The escalation of attacks has threatened to completely shatter the ceasefire, which has been in place since last month and has provided weeks of relative calm in Tehran.