Iran has launched missiles at three US Navy warships in the Strait of Hormuz, pushing the fragile ceasefire with the United States to the verge of collapse. Iran's senior military leadership has accused the US of a 'violation of the ceasefire', alleging that it targeted an Iranian oil tanker making its way towards the strategic waterway.
Iranian Accusations and Response
A spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters confirmed that a separate vessel entering the strait opposite the Emirati port of Fujairah had also been targeted, according to a statement released on Telegram by Iran's IRIB state broadcaster. The spokesperson stated that 'aerial attacks' were additionally carried out along the coastlines of Bandar Khamir, Sirik and Qeshm Island, adding that Iran's armed forces 'immediately responded' by striking US military vessels, inflicting 'significant damage'. This followed US military strikes on Iran's Qeshm Port and the city of Bandar Abbas, a move US President Donald Trump casually dismissed as a 'love tap'.
US Central Command Statement
US CENTCOM stated: 'US Forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defense strikes as U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman, May 7. 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. No U.S. assets were struck.'
CENTCOM added: 'U.S. Central Command eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces including missile and drone launch sites; command and control locations; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes. CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.'
President Trump's Comments
Trump subsequently posted on social media claiming the confrontation occurred while US warships were passing through the Strait of Hormuz, employing a peculiar analogy about a butterfly 'dropping to its grave'. He wrote: '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 deak signed, FAST! Our three Destroyers, with their wonderful crews, will now rejoin our naval blockade, which is truly a Wall of Steel.'
