Washington — Three U.S. Navy destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz were attacked Thursday, and U.S. forces carried out strikes on two Iranian ports, officials said, threatening a fragile monthlong ceasefire between the countries.
The destroyers USS Truxton, USS Mason and USS Rafael Peralta came under a coordinated assault involving missiles, unmanned aerial systems and swarms of fast-attack small boats, the U.S. military’s Central Command said. CENTCOM described the U.S. response as self-defense strikes targeting Iranian facilities, including missile and drone launch sites. Multiple U.S. officials told CBS News the strikes hit targets at the ports of Bandar Abbas and Qeshm.
CENTCOM said the U.S. vessels themselves were not struck and reported no casualties or damage to the ships as of the statement. U.S. officials said the engagement was fiercer and more sustained than a separate barrage earlier in the week that involved two of the same destroyers.
During the confrontation, the U.S. warships and supporting aircraft mounted a layered defense, officials said. Ship-based five-inch guns and close-in weapon systems were used, deck teams employed small-caliber weapons, and Apache helicopters fired Hellfire missiles. Additional aircraft provided overhead support. U.S. forces also shot down Iranian drones during the exchange.
President Donald Trump said the ceasefire remained in effect despite the strikes, characterizing the U.S. response in remarks and on social platforms as limited and effective. He warned that if a negotiated deal with Iran is not finalized quickly, U.S. attacks would be stronger in the future.
The incidents are among the most direct exchanges between the two nations since they agreed to a ceasefire about a month ago to buy time for negotiations toward a longer-term peace deal. U.S. defense and diplomatic officials have said the initial U.S. operation against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, is concluded, while also insisting the ceasefire remains in place.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have persisted despite the truce. The strategic waterway, which normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil, saw commercial traffic drop sharply after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Many ships have avoided the strait during the ceasefire amid Iranian warnings that vessels may not transit without permission.
Earlier this week, two of the same destroyers navigated the strait after facing an Iranian barrage. CENTCOM said at that time it had destroyed six Iranian vessels, a claim Iran denied. In recent days, the White House briefly launched an initiative, Project Freedom, to escort commercial ships through the strait, but the president later paused the effort pending negotiations with Iran.
U.S. officials and diplomats have not announced a timeline for talks. For now, both sides remain engaged in an uneasy mix of negotiation and limited military action as they jockey for control of the vital shipping lane and leverage in broader talks.