US President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces struck multiple Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump said seven Iranian small boats, which he described as “fast boats”, were targeted and destroyed by US forces. He added that there was no reported damage in the strait following the incident.
However, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) later stated that six Iranian boats were actually destroyed during the operation. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper told reporters in a phone briefing that the vessels were engaged after allegedly attempting to interfere with commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Cooper, US forces deployed Apache and Seahawk helicopters to strike the small boats, which were said to pose a threat to merchant vessels navigating the busy maritime corridor.
He further claimed that US forces also intercepted and neutralised missiles and drones launched toward commercial shipping, as well as additional threats directed at US Navy vessels.
Cooper said some missiles had been fired at American naval assets, while multiple drones and projectiles appeared to target commercial ships in the area. He stressed that US forces acted in self-defence while fulfilling their commitment to protecting international maritime traffic.
“We defended ourselves and, in line with our commitment, we protected all commercial vessels,” he said.
