US says its warships intercept Iranian missiles, drones in Strait of Hormuz

US warships shot down Iranian cruise missiles and drones targeting American and commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the head of US Central Command said recently, in an escalation that threatened a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

Quoting Admiral Brad Cooper, international media reported that the US Navy destroyers intercepted the missiles and drones after Iran launched the attack at ships moving through the strategic waterway under US military protection.

Apache helicopter gunships also destroyed six Iranian military speedboats that approached the vessels, Cooper told reporters. No US or commercial ships were damaged, he said.

The clash came as President Donald Trump pushed to break Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by ordering US forces to help commercial vessels leave the region safely.

Cooper said multiple Navy destroyers had entered the Arabian Sea as part of an operation aimed at reopening maritime traffic through the strait, a key global oil shipping route.

Trump said Sunday that the United States would help “guide” commercial ships through the waterway, though the administration has provided few details about the operation.

The latest exchange of fire raised concerns that the three-week ceasefire between the US and Iran could collapse amid rising tensions in the Gulf region.