Iran launches missile, drone attack on US destroyers near Strait of Hormuz

Iran confirmed early Friday that it had launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on US destroyers near the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said the operation came after what it described as a US ceasefire violation involving a strike on an Iranian oil tanker near Jask port and the approach of US destroyers toward the strategic waterway.

Precision operation

The statement said Iranian forces carried out a "large-scale and precise combined operation" using ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and explosive drones targeting the US destroyers. It added that intelligence assessments indicated that the US vessels sustained "significant damage" and that three destroyers retreated from the Strait of Hormuz area.

Iranian media reports

Earlier, Iranian media reported that Iranian naval forces targeted three US destroyers near the Strait of Hormuz after a US attack on an Iranian oil tanker. Tasnim News Agency said the vessels were retreating toward the Sea of Oman, while Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported that the targeted "enemy units" sustained damage and were forced to withdraw.

Ceasefire context

The attack comes despite a US-Iran ceasefire brokered by Pakistan that took effect on April 8. The ceasefire was later extended by President Trump without a set deadline. Since April 13, the US has enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions have remained high, with recent incidents including attacks on commercial vessels.