Uss Mason hit by attacks, U.S. strikes Bandar Abbas and Qeshm
Three U.S. Navy destroyers, including the uss mason, came under attack Thursday while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States answered with strikes on the Iranian ports of Bandar Abbas and Qeshm. Central Command described the response as "self-defense strikes" after Iranian missiles, drones and small boats were used against the warships.
The destroyers were the USS Truxton, USS Mason and USS Rafael Peralta. U.S. vessels were not struck, and no casualties or damage to the ships had been reported as of publication.
Bandar Abbas and Qeshm
The U.S. strikes hit drone and missile launch sites at the two Iranian ports. The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, normally carries one-fifth of the world's oil, which made the exchange in the narrow waterway the most direct military confrontation between the two countries since the ceasefire began.
American officials said Thursday's attack was fiercer and more sustained than a separate Iranian barrage days earlier. Iranian fast-attack boats maneuvered close enough that American warships opened fire to keep them at bay, and over several hours the ships and supporting aircraft fired five-inch naval guns, close-in weapon systems, Hellfire missiles and.50-caliber machine guns.
Monday's Strait of Hormuz transit
The Thursday strike followed a Monday transit in which the USS Truxtun and USS Mason entered the Persian Gulf after navigating an Iranian barrage. Iran also launched small boats, missiles and drones against the two destroyers on Monday, and Central Command said it destroyed six Iranian vessels.
Iran denied that six vessels were destroyed. Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the one-month ceasefire was still in place, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Operation Epic Fury was over.
Trump's account
Donald Trump said the ceasefire was still in effect despite the strikes and called the Iranian-targeted strike a "love tap" in an ABC News interview. In a Truth Social post, Trump said there was "great damage done to the Iranian attackers."
The next confirmed step in the standoff is the continuing ceasefire that U.S. officials say remains in place, even as the two countries absorb the latest exchange in the Strait of Hormuz.
