US says its forces launched 'self-defense strikes' against Iran

The U.S. military says its forces launched self-defense strikes against Iran after coming under attack in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM said Iranian forces fired missiles, drones and small boats at three U.S. Navy destroyers transiting the waterway. It said U.S. forces intercepted the threats and that no U.S. assets were hit.

According to CENTCOM, the American response struck Iranian military facilities tied to the attack, including missile and drone launch sites, command-and-control locations and intelligence nodes. Reuters reported the same account, describing the operation as retaliatory strikes after what the U.S. called unprovoked hostilities.

Iran has presented the situation differently. Reporting on May 7 said Iranian officials accused the U.S. of violating a ceasefire and targeting civilian areas and ships near the strait.

The exchange raises the risk of a wider confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane. The immediate next step will likely depend on whether Iran responds militarily or whether backchannel diplomacy can slow the escalation.