May 7, 2026 — U.S. forces struck Iranian targets Thursday after Iranian missiles, drones and small boats attacked three U.S. Navy guided‑missile destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said. CENTCOM described the U.S. response as ‘‘self‑defense’’ and said strikes hit missile and drone launch sites, command‑and‑control locations and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes tied to the attacks. CENTCOM said no U.S. assets were struck.
The destroyers involved were the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta and USS Mason. CENTCOM said Iranian forces ‘‘launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats’’ as the vessels transited toward the Gulf of Oman. The Pentagon said U.S. forces intercepted the threats and then targeted the Iranian facilities responsible for the attacks.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps gave a different account, saying it had struck the warships in retaliation for U.S. strikes on an Iranian oil tanker and civilian areas along the coast, and claiming it inflicted ‘‘substantial damage.’’ CENTCOM disputed that claim.
President Donald Trump spoke to reporters during an impromptu visit to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and offered forceful remarks. ‘‘They trifled with us today. We blew them away,’’ he said, adding that ‘‘every missile was knocked down, every drone was knocked down, and the people that shot it are no longer with us.’’ He said the strikes came after Iran ‘‘trifled with us’’ and insisted the ceasefire remains ‘‘on’’ despite the exchange.
Earlier and later posts from the president reiterated the message: he said the three destroyers ‘‘transited, very successfully, out of the Strait of Hormuz, under fire,’’ and promised further military action if Iran does not agree quickly to a deal. In a social‑media post he warned, ‘‘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!’’
At one point Trump characterized the U.S. strikes as a ‘‘love tap’’ and insisted the ceasefire was ‘‘in effect.’’ He also said a proposal between the two countries is ‘‘more than a one‑page offer’’ and that talks to resolve broader disputes could still produce an agreement ‘‘any day’’ — though he acknowledged a deal ‘‘might not happen.’’ Sources have told ABC News that Iran’s nuclear program remains a major sticking point in negotiations and the administration says it will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.
The incident underscores the fragility of the temporary pause in large‑scale hostilities. U.S. officials framed the strikes as defensive measures taken to protect ships and crews in international waters; Iranian officials portrayed their actions as retaliation. No independent confirmation of damage claims by either side was immediately available.