US strikes Iranian vessels, hits civilian areas near Strait of Hormuz
Synopsis
A fresh and serious military confrontation erupted between the US and Iran near the Strait of Hormuz on 8 May, with both sides claiming they struck the other's naval assets. Iran says the US violated a ceasefire; Washington says it acted in self-defence. President Trump threatened future strikes would be 'a lot harder, and a lot more violent' — even as the US paused its commercial shipping escort operation.
Key Takeaways
Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters alleged that US forces attacked two Iranian vessels and civilian areas near the Strait of Hormuz on 8 May .
Targeted civilian areas reportedly included Bandar-e Khamir and Sirik in Hormozgan province .
Iran's IRGC Navy claimed it retaliated with ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and explosive drones, allegedly forcing three US destroyers to retreat.
US CENTCOM described the Iranian strikes as "unprovoked" and said it responded in self-defence, adding it "does not seek escalation." President Donald Trump denied any damage to US destroyers and threatened future US strikes would be "a lot harder, and a lot more violent." The US paused Project Freedom — its commercial shipping escort operation — to assess prospects for a peace deal with Tehran .
Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, has alleged that US forces attacked two Iranian vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on 8 May and simultaneously carried out airstrikes on civilian areas in southern Iran in cooperation with unnamed regional states — even as Washington insisted it has no intention of escalating the conflict.
What Iran's Military Command Alleged
According to Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the US strikes violated an existing ceasefire between the two nations. One of the targeted vessels was reportedly an oil tanker sailing from Iran's territorial waters near Jask toward the Strait of Hormuz, while the second was entering the waterway near Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.
Zolfaghari said the civilian areas targeted included Bandar-e Khamir and Sirik, both located in Hormozgan province. He warned that Iran would deliver a
Point of View
And a lot more violent' is a contradiction that deserves scrutiny. The pause of Project Freedom suggests the White House is leaving a diplomatic door ajar, but Tehran's public retaliation claims and the IRGC's detailed missile strike narrative make a clean de-escalation path harder to sustain. The Strait of Hormuz remains the world's most consequential chokepoint — roughly 20% of global oil passes through it — and any prolonged confrontation there carries systemic economic risk well beyond the two combatants.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened between the US and Iran near the Strait of Hormuz on 8 May?
Iran's military command alleged that US forces attacked two Iranian vessels and carried out airstrikes on civilian areas in southern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz on 8 May. The US said its Navy ships were targeted in unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defence strikes.
Did the US deny carrying out strikes on Iran?
US CENTCOM acknowledged responding to what it called 'unprovoked Iranian attacks' with self-defence strikes, but said it 'does not seek escalation.' A senior US official, quoted by Fox News, reportedly confirmed strikes on Iran's Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas, but said it was not a resumption of war or an end to the ceasefire.
What did Iran's IRGC Navy claim in retaliation?
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Navy said it carried out a 'large-scale and precise combined operation' using ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and explosive drones targeting US destroyers, claiming significant damage and forcing three destroyers to retreat from the Strait of Hormuz area.
What did President Trump say about the confrontation?
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that no damage was done to the three US destroyers that transited out of the Strait of Hormuz. In a Truth Social post, he said Iran suffered great damage and threatened that future US strikes would be 'a lot harder, and a lot more violent.'
What is Project Freedom and why was it paused?
Project Freedom is a US military operation designed to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump announced it would be paused to assess whether a peace deal could be reached with Tehran, signalling a possible diplomatic opening amid the renewed military tension.
