The US military and Iran’s armed forces have attacked several ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Nevertheless, President Donald Trump believes the ceasefire remains intact – Tehran disagrees.
There have been several attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Both US and Iranian forces carried out strikes. Spokesmen for the Iranian military announced that the USA had carried out air strikes on “civilian areas” along the coasts of Qeschm Island and near Bandar Khamir and Sirik. Regional media reported explosions. Iran responded with countermeasures and attacked US Navy ships.
“A massive and extremely precise combined operation was carried out using various anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles as well as warhead-tipped loitering drones targeting enemy destroyers,” the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that Iranian military facilities had been targeted. These are said to be responsible for “unprovoked” attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had used missiles, drones and small boats to attack American warships. According to CENTCOM, however, there were no hits. The weapons used by the Revolutionary Guard were repelled.
The command added that the USA was not aiming for escalation. However, it was prepared to protect the American armed forces. Iranian state media reported, citing the Revolutionary Guard, that the situation had “returned to normal” after the exchange of blows. There are currently no reports of civilian casualties from the attacks.
Trump: “Loving slap”
After the exchange of fire, US President Donald Trump told the American broadcaster ABS News that the ceasefire was still in place. The US attacks were nothing more than a “love tap” – in other words, a moderate response to the Iranian attacks.
Tehran claimed that the USA had violated the ceasefire that had been in place for over a month. The government insisted that the American strikes had been directed against civilian facilities and that they had been carried out with the support of “regional countries”. Neither position can currently be independently verified.
