The United States military destroyed six small Iranian boats and shot down multiple missiles and drones in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to a senior US admiral. The incident marks the most significant escalation in the conflict with Iran since a ceasefire was declared four weeks ago.
US Admiral Details Operations
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, told reporters that US forces “blew up” six Iranian small boats after Iran launched “multiple cruise missiles, drones and small boats” at US Navy ships and commercial vessels under US protection. The Iranian boats were attacked by US Apache and SH-60 Seahawk helicopters, Cooper said. He emphasized that the US has a “much broader defensive package” rather than simply escorting ships one-on-one.
Trump’s Warning
President Donald Trump warned that if Iran attacks any US ships around the Strait of Hormuz, they will be “blown off the face of the earth.” In an interview with Fox News, Trump said Iran is showing flexibility in talks and is “much more malleable” in the face of the US blockade. He also confirmed that the US is continuing to send troops and equipment to the region, boasting of “more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before.”
UAE Under Fire
The United Arab Emirates reported that Iran targeted it with waves of missiles, causing a fire at an oil facility in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone. Emirati authorities said three Indian nationals were moderately injured in a “major fire” caused by an Iranian drone strike. The UAE’s Defense Ministry stated that Iran launched four cruise missiles at the country; three were intercepted and one crashed into the sea. Sirens sounded across the UAE as a second wave of drones and missiles was reported within an hour.
Iran’s Denials and Threats
Iran denied US claims that two US-flagged merchant vessels successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, calling the statements “baseless” and “outright lies.” Iran’s army commander in chief, Major General Amir Hatami, warned that any attempt by US aircraft carriers to approach the strait would be met with force. “Cruise missiles and combat drones took to the skies,” Hatami said, adding that regional security is a nonnegotiable Iranian priority. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that vessels deemed in violation of its principles would be “forcibly stopped.”
Project Freedom
Trump’s new mission, “Project Freedom,” announced on social media, aimed to use naval power to unblock the world’s most important energy shipping route. However, the initial hours saw no surge of merchant shipping through the strait, while Iran responded with a show of force. The US military said two US merchant ships made it through, but Iran denied any crossings. Admiral Cooper said the US had cleared a “one way” path through the strait for commercial vessels held hostage in the Persian Gulf.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine are scheduled to hold a news conference on Tuesday.
