Two US warships transit Strait of Hormuz as tensions threaten ceasefire

Two U.S. Navy destroyers successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf after coming under a sustained Iranian attack, according to defence officials who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity.

The USS Truxtun and USS Mason, supported by Apache helicopters and other aircraft, faced coordinated threats during the passage, including small boats, missiles, and drones launched by Iran.

Despite the intensity of the barrage, neither vessel was hit. U.S. military officials said defensive systems, reinforced by air support, successfully intercepted or deterred all incoming threats, with no projectiles reaching the ships.

The operation follows an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump on May 3 that Washington would help "guide" commercial shipping through the strait, a critical chokepoint that Iran has sought to control since hostilities escalated in late February. The disruption has left hundreds of vessels stranded in the Gulf and contributed to rising global oil prices.

The United States Central Command said earlier on May 4 that American destroyers had passed through the strait as part of an initiative known as Project Freedom, though it did not specify how many ships were involved.

Central Command also reported that two U.S.-flagged commercial vessels completed the transit and that outreach efforts are underway to "encourage traffic flow" among other shipping operators.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said Iran launched attacks against both naval and commercial vessels during the operation, prompting U.S. forces to destroy six Iranian small boats. Iranian state media denied the claim, saying no boats were lost and asserting that no commercial ships had recently crossed the strait.

Iran has warned that U.S. forces entering the waterway would be targeted, raising concerns over the stability of a fragile four-week ceasefire between the two sides.

Earlier on May 4, Iran launched missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates, including a strike on an oil tanker operated by Abu Dhabi’s state energy company as it attempted to transit the strait. Iranian media also claimed that a U.S. warship was hit, a claim denied by Central Command.

Meanwhile, the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports under orders from Trump, aiming to increase pressure on Tehran amid ongoing negotiations over a longer-term agreement. Iran has described the blockade as a violation of the ceasefire.

By Sabina Mammadli