US Carries Out Strikes on Two Sites in Iran

The United States carried out strikes against at least two locations in Iran on Thursday, according to a U.S. official, in what Washington described as a defensive response to an earlier Iranian attack on American naval vessels.

Get today's headlines by email

The strikes targeted sites in Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island, both situated near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. A U.S. official said the action was defensive and should not be seen as a return to broader combat operations against Iran.

Naval vessels targeted in Strait of Hormuz

United States Central Command said two U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers were attacked while passing through the Strait of Hormuz toward the Gulf of Oman.

In a statement posted on X, the command said Iranian forces launched several missiles and drones and deployed small boats toward the ships as they moved through the international shipping corridor.

The vessels involved were the USS Truxtun (DDG‑103), the USS Rafael Peralta (DDG‑115) and the USS Mason (DDG‑87).

According to the command, none of the American ships were hit during the incident.

US response described as defensive

CENTCOM said its forces intercepted and destroyed the incoming threats before carrying out strikes on Iranian facilities believed to be responsible for launching the attack.

The targets included missile and drone launch sites as well as locations used for command and control operations and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities.

Military officials said the response was aimed at neutralising the sources of the attack while protecting U.S. personnel and assets operating in the region.

“No U.S. assets were struck,” the command said, adding that the incoming missiles and drones had been eliminated before they could reach the American ships.

Washington says it does not seek escalation

In its statement, CENTCOM stressed that the United States was not seeking to escalate tensions with Iran despite the retaliatory strikes.

The command said U.S. forces remain positioned to defend themselves and safeguard American personnel in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, is one of the world’s most important maritime routes for oil shipments and has long been a focal point of tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Thursday’s exchange marks the latest confrontation in the waterway, where U.S. and Iranian forces have frequently encountered one another.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 8 May 2026