Trump Says US Navy Destroyers ‘Completely Crushed’ Iranian Forces After Hormuz Clash
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has declared that US Navy destroyers “completely crushed” Iranian forces as the two nations traded fire in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at the White House, Trump gave a characteristically blunt and triumphant assessment of the engagement, which saw American warships intercept a barrage of Iranian missiles and drones.
“Well, I’d say they were completely crushed,” Trump told reporters, responding to a question about the US military’s performance against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Trump described the event in dramatic terms: “They shot off about seven or eight missiles, I think they were trying to get our destroyers — a lot of drones also. And every one was shot down. And we hit them very hard. In fact, we had to hit them a lot harder than we originally wanted because their boats were encircling and acting in a very aggressive way, so we had to do a number on them.”
He concluded, “We have the greatest military in the world, and they know that, and they are not testing us.”
⚓ The Naval Engagement
The clash occurred on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, when three US Navy destroyers — the USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87) — were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to both US and Iranian sources, the IRGC Navy launched a salvo of missiles and a swarm of drones targeting the American ships.
- US Confirmation: US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the attack, stating that its forces “intercepted multiple missiles, drones, and small boats” before responding with “self-defense strikes” against Iranian military infrastructure.
- Iran’s Announcement: The IRGC admitted to launching “intense” missile operations, claiming the attack was a “decisive response” to what it called “ceasefire violations by American terrorists” and boasting that its forces had inflicted “significant damage” on the US warships. However, the Pentagon has categorically denied that any US vessel was hit.
🔥 The ‘Project Freedom’ Background
The naval engagement occurred against the backdrop of “Project Freedom,” President Trump’s high-stakes initiative to break Iran’s months-long blockade of the strategic waterway.
The operation had a turbulent start: It was announced on Monday, May 4, paused on Tuesday, May 5, after the Trump administration cited a request from Pakistan and other countries to create “space for diplomacy.” However, after securing base access from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the operation resumed, leading directly to Thursday’s direct clash with Iranian forces.
🗣️ “They Do This To Save Face”
When pressed by a reporter on why Iran would launch a failed attack if it knew it was going to be defeated, Trump offered a psychological assessment: “They do it to save face. Because they cannot say that they did nothing. So they send out some drones; they send out some missiles, and they almost all get shot down. And we hit their systems. And they can tell their people — in their propaganda — that they fought back.”
Trump reiterated his hardline stance on the ongoing nuclear negotiations, and issued a stark reminder that the ceasefire is conditional: “As I have always said, it will continue unless something happens.”
📋 Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers
- Trump’s Assessment: US destroyers “completely crushed” Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The Events: US Navy destroyers intercepted Iranian missiles and drones; US forces later struck Iranian military infrastructure on Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas.
- Iran’s Narrative: The IRGC admits to launching attacks but disputes the extent of damage and claims that US actions are “ceasefire violations.”
- Broader Context: The clash occurred during the start of the “Project Freedom” initiative aimed at breaking Iran’s strategic blockade.
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