US military hits Iranian boats, missile launch sites in 'self-defence' strikes

Amid ongoing peace talks, the US military launched limited “self-defence” strikes in southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and IRGC boats allegedly attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. 

The United States military on Monday launched strikes in southern Iran targeting sites including boats allegedly attempting to lay mines and missile launch positions, describing the operation as a defensive measure.

In its statement, US Central Command said that the ​strikes were designed "to protect ‌our ⁠troops from threats posed by Iranian forces."

“US forces conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins (Navy Captain) said in a statement to Fox News.

“US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” he further said.

Hawkins said the targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats allegedly trying to lay mines in the strategic waterway.

According to a senior US official, two boats belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were detected allegedly laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a military response.  US forces also hit a surface-to-air missile (SAM) site in Bandar Abbas after it reportedly targeted American warplanes.

According to the official both Iranian vessels and the missile site were destroyed in the strike. 

Two additional sources told Fox News that the operation was limited in scope and did not indicate the collapse of the ceasefire with Iran.

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The developments came amid reports of explosions near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Iranian media reported blasts in Bandar Abbas, while further explosions were heard near the southern coastal towns of Sirik and Jask.

The development comes as US President Donald Trump reiterated that Iran should hand over its enriched uranium to the United States for destruction, while also advocating for a broad expansion of the Abraham Accords that could potentially include Tehran itself as part of a future regional peace framework.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Iran’s enriched uranium as “nuclear dust” and said it should either be transferred to the US or destroyed under international supervision at a mutually agreed location.

“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location,” Trump wrote.

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