The United States attacked Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after Tehran targeted Navy vessels, threatening to end a ceasefire and President Donald Trump’s new vow to open the vital passage.
The US military “bombed” six small Iranian boats after its forces fired “multiple cruise missiles, drones and small boats” at the vessels but did not hit them, according to US Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Bradley Cooper, who heads US operations in the region. He did not say what effect this would have on the ceasefire.
The exchange occurred a day after President Donald Trump announced that the Navy would beginto support commercial shipspass the waterway, an effort he has called “Project Freedom.”
Although the government initially aimed to destroy Iran’s nuclear stockpile and reduce its ballistic missile capabilities, the conflict between the United States and Iran appears to be entering a new phase. Both sides are aiming for control of the crucial channel, through which the world’s largest oil supply flows.
Trump on Mondayhe told a Fox News reporterthat Iran will be “blown off the face of the earth” if officials attack US Navy ships in the region.
But he made no mention of the U.S. submarine attack in a social media post on Monday and appeared to dismiss concerns about how Project Freedom would work alongside Iran’s sanctions. Trump saidIran fired back“Unrelated nations” in the Strait of Hormuz, including a South Korean cargo ship.
“Maybe it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission!” he wrote. “We have brought down seven small Boats or, as they like to call them, “fast-moving” Boats. They are the only ones left.”
Neither the Defense Department nor the White House immediately commented on whether any of these attacks affected the ceasefire.
Commercial ships could pass freely through the strait before the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. But Tehran has blocked much of the traffic since the war began in February, leading to higher energy costs and higher gas prices.
It is not clear how the United States plans to ensure the safety of commercial ships. Navy can use traditional escort due to lack of property andconcern about minessecret down below. Instead, it could use a number of smaller, smarter boats to monitor traffic through the channel and provide security. The US also still has two aircraft carrier groups in the area and many other warships that can provide air defense.
But any mission in the corridor promises to be difficult. The military pulled in Army Apache helicopters and Navy Seahawk helicopters to destroy the Iranian boats. Several Navy destroyers also pushed the current and are now in the Arabian Sea, Cooper said.
In a separate incident, US officials dismissed claims by Iranian state media on Monday morning that Tehran had fired two missiles at a US warship as it attempted to enter the strait. US officials have denied the allegations, saying insteadtwo ships have successfully crossed the sea.
“No US Navy ship was hit,” the High Command said of the earlier alleged incident in apost on X. “US forces support Project Freedom and enforce naval blockades on Iranian ports.”
Trump, on Sunday, said the United States is helping countries that have asked for help – after previously telling allies they would need itfind their own solutionreach that stream.
“Countries from all over the world, almost all of which are not involved in the ongoing Middle East conflict openly, and violently, for all to see, have asked the United States if we can help release their ships that are stuck in the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on the social network.
Trump also said the new operation was a “humanitarian” effort that could show a sense of “good will.” Still, he warned, any interference with Project Freedom would be dealt with “vigorously.”
Iranian officials had previously warned that “any foreign military force, especially the US invasion force” would face attack if they tried to pass through the strait.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday told Fox News that America has “full control” of the channel.
“We have blocked ships entering or leaving Iranian ports,” Bessent said, though he added that the United States would return fire if fired upon. “If the Iranians want to escalate here,” he said, “we are ready to escalate.”
