US conducts 'self-defense' airstrikes in southern Iran amid ceasefire

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces carried out "self-defense" airstrikes in southern Iran on May 25, targeting missile launchers and Iranian boats accused of attempting to mine the strategic Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM spokesperson Timothy Hawkins stated the strikes were aimed at protecting American soldiers from Iranian threats while emphasizing the U.S. military's continued "restraint" during the current ceasefire.

The strikes occurred near the port city of Bandar Abbas, a key Iranian naval base. U.S. forces reportedly detected two vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) laying mines in the strait. According to reports, both IRGC vessels were destroyed, and an anti-aircraft missile site in Bandar Abbas was also targeted.

“

U.S. forces today conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran to protect our forces against threats from Iran.

Sources familiar with the situation indicated that these actions do not signify an end to the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, characterizing the operation as purely defensive. Earlier, Iranian media reported multiple explosions in Bandar Abbas and coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz, though the causes were initially unconfirmed.

This incident is not the first confrontation between the U.S. and Iran during a ceasefire period. In early May, the U.S. reportedly struck Iranian military facilities, which Washington accused of launching missiles, drones, and small boats toward U.S. warships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Former President Donald Trump had previously authorized U.S. forces to respond to actions deemed provocative around the vital waterway.

“

The U.S. military will continue to protect our forces while maintaining restraint during the current ceasefire.