Iran has launched an attack on a U.S. naval vessel during Operation Project Freedom, which aims to guide commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz while enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed Monday that Iran deployed cruise missiles, drones, and small boats targeting U.S. commercial and military vessels in the strait earlier that day. The operation, which involves 15,000 U.S. service members, seeks to ensure safe passage for cargo ships through the waterway while maintaining restrictions on Iranian ports.
Cooper reported that Iranian forces launched multiple disruptions over the past several hours using drones and missiles to interfere with the mission. An Iranian official stated Tehran fired a warning shot but confirmed it remains unclear whether the U.S. warship sustained damage.
Iran has repeatedly claimed strikes on American naval assets since February 28, including an alleged hit on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in March—though CENTCOM previously clarified that the missiles did not come close to the vessel during that incident. President Trump announced Sunday that the United States would guide ships out of the strait under Project Freedom, warning Iranian efforts to block passage “will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.”
In response, Iran warned that any vessels attempting to traverse the waterway must first coordinate with Tehran and that attempts to force open the strait would face resistance. Maj. Gen. Pilot Ali Abdollahi stated on state television: “Any foreign military force—especially the aggressive U.S. military—that intends to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted.”
CENTCOM denied reports of a U.S. warship being struck by two missiles, emphasizing that “no U.S. Navy ships have been struck” and that forces remain engaged in Project Freedom while enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports. Cooper further confirmed that the United States destroyed six Iranian small boats attempting to interfere with operations and advised Iranian vessels to “remain clear of U.S. military assets” in the region.
Iran’s state news agency contradicted Cooper’s account, asserting none of its so-called “fast boats” were damaged during the incident.