US says it destroyed Iranian boats, intercepted missiles in Gulf op

The US military said on Monday, May 4, that it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones as Tehran attempted to disrupt a new US naval operation aimed at reopening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, as per a Reuters report.

US President Donald Trump launched the effort, known as Project Freedom, on Monday in a bid to take control of the strategic waterway after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz following the start of the conflict involving the US and Israel on February 28.

US Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, declined to say whether a ceasefire that began on April 8 remained in effect, as Iran carried out attacks across the region, including drone and missile strikes on the United Arab Emirates on Monday.

However, Cooper confirmed ongoing efforts by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to disrupt the US operation.

"The IRGC has launched multiple cruise missiles, drones and small boats at ships we are protecting. We have defeated each and ⁠every one of those threats through the clinical application of defensive munitions," he said.

He added that he had "strongly advised" Iranian forces to stay clear of US military assets as the operation unfolds. According to Cooper, the mission involves 15,000 US troops, Navy destroyers, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, and undersea assets.

"The U.S. commanders who are on the scene have all the authorities necessary to defend their units and to defend commercial shipping," he said.

A South Korean vessel was struck by an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. In a social media post, Trump said the ship was not part of the operation and suggested it might consider joining US efforts to protect maritime traffic near Iran. He also estimated that the US had sunk seven Iranian fast boats.

The US operation to reopen the strait is being carried out in stages, beginning with the clearance of Iranian naval mines. The US then demonstrated the route’s safety earlier on Monday by sending two US-flagged commercial vessels through the waterway.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that no commercial ships had passed through the strait in recent hours and dismissed US claims as false. Iranian state media also denied reports that US forces had sunk Iranian vessels.

Cooper emphasized that the mission goes beyond a traditional escort role, describing it as a multi-layered defensive operation involving ships, helicopters, aircraft, and electronic warfare capabilities to counter Iranian threats.

He said US Apache and Seahawk helicopters were used to destroy the Iranian fast boats.

"If you're escorting a ship, you're playing kind of one on one. I think we have a much better defensive arrangement in this process," he said. "We have a much broader defensive package than you would have ever if you were just escorting."

The operation is part of Trump’s broader effort to end disruptions to global energy supplies caused by Iran’s blockade of the strait, which previously handled about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Cooper said the US military has been urging vessels to resume transit through the strait despite Iranian threats of military action, which have left ships from 87 countries stranded in the Gulf.

"Over the ⁠last 12 hours, we've reached out to dozens of ships and shipping companies to encourage traffic flow through the strait," Cooper said.

"This news has been quite enthusiastically received, and we're already beginning to see movement."

He added that the US blockade of Iran, preventing ships from entering or leaving Iranian territory, remains in force and is exceeding expectations.

By Tamilla Hasanova