Iran fires at US ships in Strait of Hormuz as ceasefire on brink of collapse | World | News

Iran has fired missiles at three warships in the Strait of Hormuz, with the fragile ceasefire with the US on the brink of collapse.

Iran’s top military command has accused the US of a “violation of the ceasefire” and alleges it targeted an Iranian oil tanker moving towards the Strait of Hormuz.

A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said another vessel entering the strait opposite the Emirati port of Fujairah was targeted, according to a statement published on Telegram by Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster.

The spokesperson said “aerial attacks” were also carried out along the coasts of Bandar Khamir, Sirik and Qeshm Island. They added that Iran’s armed fores “immediately responded” by attacking US military vessels, inflicting “significant damage”.

It came after the US military carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Port and the city of Bandar Abbas, a move described by US President Donald Trump as a “love tap”.

US CENTCOM said: “US Forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defense strikes as U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman, May 7.

“Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats as USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87) transited the international sea passage. No U.S. assets were struck.

“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) eliminated inbound 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.

“CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.”

US CENTCOM said: “US Forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defense strikes as U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman, May 7.

“Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats as USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), and USS Mason (DDG 87) transited the international sea passage. No U.S. assets were struck.

“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) eliminated inbound 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.

“CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.”

Trump later took to social media to claim the exchange happened while US warships were transiting the Strait of Hormuz, using a bizarre analogy about a butterfly “dropping to its grave”.

He said: “Three World Class American Destroyers just transited, very successfully, out of the Strait of Hormuz, under fire. There was no damage done to the three Destroyers, but great damage done to the Iranian attackers.

“They were completely destroyed along with numerous small boats, which are being used to take the place of their fully decapitated Navy. These boats went to the bottom of the sea, quickly and efficiently. Missiles were shot at our destroyers, and were easily knocked down. Likewise, drones came, and were incinerated while in the air.

“They dropped ever so beautifully down to the ocean, very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave! A normal Country would have allowed these Destroyers to pass, but Iran is not a normal country.

“They are led by lunatics, and if they had the chance to use a Nuclear Weapon, they would do it, without question. But they’ll never have that opportunity and, just like we knocked them out again today, we’ll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their deak signed, FAST!

“Our three Destroyers, with their wonderful crews, will now rejoin our naval blockade, which is truly a “Wall of Steel.”