'Great damage' done to Iranian attackers after US Navy destroyers came under fire, says Trump
The Iranian military has accused the US of a ceasefire violation after explosions in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran has accused the United States of violating a ceasefire by targeting two ships at the Strait of Hormuz and attacking civilian areas, the country's top joint military command said.
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US President Donald Trump later said that three US Navy destroyers transited out of the Strait of Hormuz under fire, adding that the American destroyers were not damaged but "great damage was done to Iranian attackers."
"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," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"They were completely destroyed along with numerous small boats," he said.
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He added: "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 Deal signed, FAST!
"Our three Destroyers, with their wonderful Crews, will now rejoin our Naval Blockade, which is truly a 'Wall of Steel'."
A spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement earlier that the US targeted "an Iranian oil tanker travelling from Iran's coastal waters near Jask toward the Strait of Hormuz, as well as another vessel entering the Strait of Hormuz near the Emirati port of Fujairah,"
"At the same time, with the cooperation of some regional countries, they carried out air attacks on civilian areas along the coasts of Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island."
The US military says it intercepted Iranian attacks and responded with self-defence strikes.
US Central Command shared a statement on X saying: "U.S. 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."