The U.S. military said it carried out retaliatory strikes against Iran on Thursday (7 May), as Iran’s military leadership accused Washington of violating a Pakistani-mediated ceasefire agreed to back in April.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had targeted Iranian military sites responsible for attacks on U.S. forces in the Strait of Hormuz, after it said Tehran launched an attack on three U.S. Navy destroyers transiting the sea passage.
In a statement, CENTCOM said it had “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”.
No U.S. military assets were hit by the Iranians, the U.S. military said.
"CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces," the statement added.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday three U.S. 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.
But Iran’s Joint Military Command, which represents the Iranian military and Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said Washington’s attacks on several Iranian cities and an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz were a breach of the ceasefire.
The U.S. 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," a spokesperson for Iran's Joint Military Command said in a statement carried by state media.
"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 spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump told ABC News on Thursday that the ceasefire with Iran remained in place despite the new strikes, a reporter for the American broadcaster said on X.
Earlier, a reporter for U.S. news channel Fox News said on X that an unnamed senior U.S. official had confirmed that the U.S. military carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas.
According to the report, the American official said the strikes did not mean an end to the ceasefire announced on 8 April.
The fresh U.S. strikes came as Washington awaited Tehran’s response to a peace proposal sent to it via mediator Pakistan.
The proposal is intended to bring about a lasting and formalised halt to fighting between the two countries, while leaving the most contentious issues - such as Iran's nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz - unresolved for now.
At least 42 children were injured in an explosion at an educational centre in western Kabul on Monday, sparking international calls for a full inve...
Uzbekistan could lose up to $1.5 billion if escalating Middle East tensions disrupt vital trade and logistics routes through Iran, putting pressure...
Pakistan is turning to more U.S. crude as disruption around the Strait of Hormuz exposes the risks of its heavy reliance on Gulf energy supplies....
At least 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, among the deadliest since a June ceasefire. Meanwhile, Qatar denied holding Iranian pilots. It said it had found the remains of one pilot after an airspace violation and had contacted Iran to coordinate a handover.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington is not seeking an extension of its memorandum of understanding with Iran, claiming the U.S. already controls the Strait of Hormuz through its naval blockade.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Ukraine has targeted at least 20 Wildberries warehouses across Russia since 18 July, disrupting a major logistics network. Kyiv says the strikes aim to disrupt alleged military-linked supplies, while the attacks have caused billions of dollars in losses and wider economic pressure.
South Korea's presidential Blue House said on Monday it was reviewing U.S. President Donald Trump's comments on scaling back joint military drills. It added that it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington is not seeking an extension of its memorandum of understanding with Iran, claiming the U.S. already controls the Strait of Hormuz through its naval blockade.
At least 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, among the deadliest since a June ceasefire. Meanwhile, Qatar denied holding Iranian pilots. It said it had found the remains of one pilot after an airspace violation and had contacted Iran to coordinate a handover.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to make the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory have been mocked by Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, who said the sea passage "cannot be seized by tweet."
The U.S. will impose unprecedented measures on Iran in order to economically isolate the country, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment