U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Monday that American forces carried out targeted self-defense strikes in southern Iran. The action followed what officials described as unprovoked Iranian attacks on U.S. Navy vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
According to CENTCOM, Iranian forces targeted three U.S. guided-missile destroyers — USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason — with missiles, drones, and small boats. No U.S. assets were hit. In response, U.S. forces struck Iranian military targets, including missile launch sites and boats attempting to emplace naval mines near Bandar Abbas.
CENTCOM emphasized restraint, stating the strikes aimed to protect U.S. troops during the fragile ceasefire in place since early April. Officials described the operation as limited and defensive.
This incident occurs amid ongoing indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran to reach a broader agreement that could formally end hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to full shipping, and address other issues. Multiple rounds of talks have faced setbacks, though both sides have continued diplomatic efforts mediated in part by Pakistan.
The broader 2026 conflict began with major U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, which significantly degraded Iranian military capabilities and leadership. A conditional ceasefire took hold in April, but tensions persist, particularly around maritime security in the vital oil chokepoint.
