US Strikes Iranian Facilities After Attacks on Navy Vessels in Strait of Hormuz

U.S. forces conducted retaliatory strikes against Iranian military facilities on Thursday following unprovoked attacks by Iran on three U.S. Navy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Iran launched missiles, drones, and small boats at the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason. The U.S. response targeted Iranian missile and drone launch sites, command-and-control centers, and intelligence hubs. No U.S. vessels were damaged in the exchange. Despite the escalation, President Donald Trump characterized the strikes as a minor "love tap" and asserted that the ongoing ceasefire remains in effect, predicting that any potential war would end quickly. General Dan Caine noted that these hostile actions remain below the threshold for restarting major combat operations. This incident follows earlier U.S. defensive actions earlier in the week against Iranian assets. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the U.S. and Iran are currently deliberating over a peace memorandum aimed at ending the conflict and halting Iran’s nuclear program, suggesting diplomatic efforts continue alongside military tensions.