Iran says navy fired warning shots at US destroyers in Sea of Oman

Iranian naval forces opened fire with missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles against two American destroyers in the Sea of Oman on Friday, prompting the warships to abandon their positions and head toward the Indian Ocean, according to a statement issued by the Iranian Army. The operation employed Qadir missiles and Shahed Danesh offensive drones to target the vessels DDG-103 and DDG-87, the army's public relations directorate said, describing the action as a response to persistent US interference with Iranian commercial shipping.

The targeted destroyers had served as command-and-control centers for hostile activities against Iranian tankers, the statement added. The strikes also compelled other American naval assets to exit the area—including vessels operating alongside the USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group and the amphibious assault ship Tripoli.

Tehran accuses US of maritime theft

Tehran accused US naval forces of systematically disrupting regional trade routes and engaging in maritime theft targeting Iranian cargo. The command center overseeing naval operations issued a direct warning to Washington to cease hostile actions in regional waters, the army stated.

Although the US destroyers had already moved beyond the immediate range of the missiles used in Friday's operation, the army emphasized that subsequent engagements could involve more extensive arsenals if necessary. The incident marks the latest escalation in tensions between the two navies amid ongoing disputes over freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf and adjacent waterways.