President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that Iranian forces were completely destroyed after launching an unprovoked attack on three American destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, prompting immediate U.S. retaliation against Iranian military installations and naval facilities.

Attack on U.S. Naval Forces

U.S. Central Command reported that Iranian forces fired multiple missiles, drones, and launched fast attack boats at the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason as the destroyers navigated through the Strait of Hormuz toward the Gulf of Oman. No American vessels sustained damage as defense systems intercepted all incoming threats. The three destroyers successfully completed their transit under fire before rejoining the naval blockade Trump has described as a wall of steel surrounding the strategic waterway.

Swift American Response

American forces immediately eliminated the Iranian attackers before launching retaliatory strikes on military targets across southern Iran. According to CENTCOM, U.S. forces hit missile and drone launch positions, command-and-control facilities, and intelligence nodes responsible for coordinating the attack. Senior officials confirmed strikes targeted Qeshm Port, Bandar Abbas, and the Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint in Minab. Trump stated that numerous small boats sank quickly and efficiently, while missiles were easily knocked down and drones were incinerated mid-air.

Ceasefire Remains In Effect

Despite the violent exchange, President Trump insisted the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran remains intact. Speaking to ABC News, Trump described the retaliatory strikes as just a love tap while emphasizing the agreement continues. The president warned Iranian leadership he considers lunatics that future attacks would bring far more severe military consequences if Tehran fails to sign a comprehensive framework deal currently under negotiation. Trump recently paused Project Freedom, a defensive maritime operation protecting commercial vessels in the strait, citing progress toward a complete and final agreement.

Iranian Response Unclear

Iranian state media provided conflicting accounts of the confrontation, initially blaming the United Arab Emirates before acknowledging exchanges of fire between Iranian forces and what they described as the enemy. News agencies reported strikes near Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island but offered no details on casualties or damage. The Trump administration now awaits Tehran’s response to the latest proposed framework while maintaining naval forces in position to protect American interests throughout the region.