Iran Announces Missile and Drone Attack on US Warships in Strait of Hormuz
Reflecto News | Breaking News | Iran-US Conflict
TEHRAN — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy publicly announced early Friday that it had launched a large-scale combined operation involving multiple missile and drone attacks against three United States Navy destroyers in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The announcement from Tehran came as a dramatic military escalation, with the IRGC claiming its forces had used anti-ship ballistic missiles, long-range cruise missiles, and explosive drones to target the American vessels. The Iranian statement asserted that “significant damage” was inflicted on the US ships and that they were forced to retreat from the strait.
🇺🇸 US Confirms Attack, Says No Ships Hit
The Pentagon has confirmed the Iranian attack but has vehemently denied that any US Navy vessels were struck or damaged.
According to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM), the three ships involved were the USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87). The Navy remains on high alert, with the Truman Carrier Strike Group already in the region and the Eisenhower Strike Group reportedly en route.
CENTCOM confirmed that Iranian forces launched “multiple missiles, drones and small boats” as the destroyers were transiting the strait into the Gulf of Oman. However, they confirmed that “No US assets were struck.”
The US military confirmed that its forces intercepted incoming projectiles and responded with “self-defense strikes.” They reported that they targeted Iranian military facilities in the area, including missile and drone launch sites, command and control nodes, and surveillance locations.
💥 Trump Vows ‘Great Damage’ and Warns Tehran
President Donald Trump addressed the clash on his Truth Social platform, claiming that “great damage” had been inflicted on the Iranian attackers and that numerous small boats were “completely destroyed.”
“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!” Trump wrote.
The President issued a stark warning to Tehran, reiterating his demand for a nuclear deal. He stated that if Iran fails to sign an agreement, future US retaliation would be far more severe:
“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!”
— President Donald J. Trump, via Truth Social
He added that the US naval blockade of Iran remains in effect and that the destroyers, which he said fought their way through the strait, would rejoin this “Wall of Steel.”
⚔️ Escalating Warfare in the Strait of Hormuz
Thursday night’s clash represents the most significant military engagement since the fragile ceasefire was declared on April 7.
The trigger for the missile launch appears to be a separate US military action earlier in the week. On Wednesday, US forces disabled an Iranian-flagged oil tanker, the M/T Hasna, in the Gulf of Oman by firing rounds into its rudder when it attempted to breach the US naval blockade.
Iran’s IRGC claimed that its attack was a direct response to this US “ceasefire violation” and “aggression” against an Iranian oil tanker near the port of Jask, combined with the approach of the US destroyers.
The incident highlights the extreme volatility of the waterway. The US and Iran have been engaged in low-level skirmishes for weeks, with the Pentagon reporting more than 10 Iranian attacks on US forces since the ceasefire began, though officials previously had characterized those incidents as remaining below the “threshold” for restarting full-scale war.
📋 Key Takeaways
- Iran’s Announcement: IRGC Navy says it launched large-scale missile and drone strike on US destroyers, claiming “significant damage.”
- US Confirmation: Pentagon confirms attack on USS Truxtun, Rafael Peralta, and Mason but denies any US ships were hit.
- US Response: US forces conducted “self-defense strikes” on Iranian military facilities in Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas.
- Trump’s Statement: President says “great damage” done to Iranian attackers and warns Tehran to sign a deal “FAST!” or face more violence.
- Casualties: No US casualties reported; conflicting reports on Iranian losses.
- Escalation Risk: Most serious clash since April 7 ceasefire; diplomatic efforts to end the war are stalled.
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