The US military announces it intercepted “unprovoked” Iranian attacks and responded with “defensive strikes”.
The US military announces it intercepted “unprovoked” Iranian attacks and responded with “defensive strikes”.
2026-05-08
Shafaq News – Washington
The US Central Command announced that its forces intercepted what it described as “unprovoked” Iranian attacks and responded with defensive strikes as three US Navy destroyers passed through the Strait of Hormuz towards the Gulf of Oman.
The command said in a statement that Iranian forces launched several missiles, drones, and small boats toward the guided-missile destroyers USS Truxton, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason as they passed through the international waterway, confirming that none of the US military assets were hit.
The Central Command added that its forces “removed the incoming threats,” and then targeted Iranian military installations that it said were responsible for attacking U.S. forces, including missile and drone launch sites, command and control centers, and an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance node.
The command stressed that Washington “is not seeking escalation,” but will remain in a position to protect American forces, referring to the continued US military deployment around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.
The American narrative comes after an Iranian statement accusing Washington of violating the ceasefire and targeting an Iranian oil tanker near Jask and another ship off Fujairah, in addition to strikes that Tehran said hit coastal areas in Bandar Khamir, Sirik and Qeshm Island, while Iran announced that it responded by targeting American naval vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of Chabahar port.
In contrast, Fox News quoted a US official as saying that US forces carried out strikes targeting the ports of Qeshm and Bandar Abbas, but he stressed that the attack “does not represent a resumption of the war,” at a time when Washington and Tehran are exchanging accusations about violating the fragile ceasefire around the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Central Command had previously announced a blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, but said its forces would not impede freedom of navigation for ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
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