IRAN has formally acknowledged carrying out missile and drone strikes against United States naval destroyers near the Strait of Hormuz, in a dramatic escalation of military tensions around one of the world’s most critical maritime trade corridors.
In a statement carried by Iranian media, the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the operation was launched in response to what Tehran described as a violation of the ceasefire agreement by the United States following alleged attacks on an Iranian oil tanker near the port of Jask and the movement of American destroyers towards the strategic waterway.
According to the IRGC, Iranian forces conducted a “large-scale and precise combined operation” involving ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles and explosive-laden drones targeting U.S. naval vessels operating near the strait.
Iranian authorities further claimed intelligence assessments indicated the American destroyers had suffered “significant damage”, adding that three U.S. warships were forced to withdraw from the Strait of Hormuz area.
Earlier, Iranian media outlets reported that naval forces had launched coordinated missile and drone attacks against three American destroyers after what Tehran alleged was a U.S. strike on an Iranian oil tanker.
The semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the vessels were retreating towards the Gulf of Oman, while state broadcaster IRIB claimed the targeted “enemy units” had sustained damage and withdrawn from the confrontation zone.
The United States, however, strongly rejected those assertions.
US President Donald Trump said the three American Navy destroyers had successfully navigated through the Strait of Hormuz “under fire” without sustaining any direct damage from Iranian attacks.
“Three world-class American destroyers just transited the Strait of Hormuz very successfully, under fire,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“There was no damage to any of the three destroyers, but tremendous damage was inflicted on the Iranian attackers. They were completely destroyed along with several small boats,” he added.
Trump further said the destroyers and their crews would now rejoin what he described as America’s naval blockade operations in the strategically vital maritime corridor.
“Our three destroyers, along with their great crews, will now rejoin our blockade, which truly is a ‘steel wall’,” he said.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) earlier confirmed that American forces intercepted what it called an “unprovoked” Iranian attack and responded with what it described as defensive military action while the warships were transiting the Strait of Hormuz en route to the Gulf of Oman on Thursday.
CENTCOM stated that no American assets had been struck during the confrontation.
“U.S. Central Command destroyed incoming threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces, including missile and drone launch sites, command-and-control locations, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes,” the command said in a statement.
The latest naval confrontation has intensified fears of broader instability across the Gulf region, particularly as the Strait of Hormuz remains a crucial artery for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Markets and governments worldwide continue to monitor developments closely amid concerns that sustained hostilities could further disrupt international energy supplies and heighten geopolitical tensions across the Middle East. - May 8, 2026
Iran, United States, Strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump, IRGC, CENTCOM, Gulf Security, Middle East Conflict, Naval Clash, Global Oil Routes
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