Iran Launches Massive Missile And Drone Attack On US Navy Destroyers Near Strait Of Hormuz

Iran confirmed early Friday that it launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on US destroyers near the Strait of Hormuz after accusing Washington of targeting an Iranian oil tanker near Jask port and violating a ceasefire agreement.

According to a statement released by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Iranian forces carried out a “large-scale and precise combined operation” against American naval vessels operating close to the strategic waterway.

The statement said Iran used ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles and explosive drones during the operation.

Iranian officials claimed intelligence assessments showed that the targeted US destroyers suffered “significant damage” and that three vessels withdrew from the area near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian media outlets reported that the attack came after a US strike on an Iranian oil tanker near Jask port in Iran’s territorial waters.

Tasnim News Agency reported that Iranian naval forces targeted three US destroyers using missiles and suicide drones, adding that the vessels were retreating towards the Sea of Oman.

Iran’s state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, also reported that the targeted “enemy units” sustained damage and were forced to withdraw.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters separately accused the United States of violating the ceasefire through attacks on civilian areas, including Qeshm Island, allegedly carried out “in cooperation with some regional countries”.

The statement did not identify those countries.

The Iranian military described the US action against the tanker as an attack by an “aggressor” force and warned that Tehran would continue responding to any future action “without the slightest hesitation”.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said Iranian forces used “various types of ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles and destructive drones with high-explosive warheads” during the retaliation.

Iranian media later claimed that the attack targeted three American destroyers identified as the USS Mason, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Truxtun while they were transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The US Central Command later confirmed that Iranian missiles, drones and fast boats targeted the destroyers during the transit.

However, CENTCOM said all incoming threats were intercepted and maintained that no American assets were hit.

Why The Strait Of Hormuz Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow shipping chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

A large share of the world’s crude oil and LNG cargoes passes through the route every day, making any military activity in the area a major concern for global shipping and energy markets.

According to Iranian statements, the attack involved anti-ship ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and explosive drones.

Anti-ship ballistic missiles are designed to hit moving naval targets at sea from long distances. These weapons have gained increasing attention in recent maritime conflicts, particularly in the Red Sea, where the US previously accused Yemen’s Houthi forces of using such missiles against commercial and naval vessels.

Cruise missiles, meanwhile, fly at lower altitudes and are commonly used in maritime strike operations because they can approach targets closer to the sea surface.

Iran also said explosive drones carrying high-explosive warheads were used during the operation.

Explosive drones, often referred to as suicide drones, are unmanned systems designed to hit targets directly with onboard warheads.

References: AA, Al Jazeera