The U.S. military said on Thursday that after Iran fired missiles, drones, and small boats toward three U.S. destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, American forces launched strikes against Iranian military targets, further undermining a fragile ceasefire that had lasted for a month. The U.S. Central Command stated that U.S. forces intercepted and destroyed incoming threats, before targeting Iranian missile and drone launch sites, command and control facilities, as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance nodes. In response, Iran accused the United States of violating the ceasefire the previous day by firing at an Iranian oil tanker en route to the Strait of Hormuz, claiming Iran’s attack on U.S. warships was a retaliatory action. However, Trump said late Thursday that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire "remains in effect," while simultaneously threatening that additional actions would be taken if Iran refuses to accept a peaceful resolution. Earlier that day, he confirmed on social media that fighting had occurred between the two sides in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the three U.S. destroyers had departed the strait after being attacked but sustained no damage, and that U.S. forces had "easily shot down" incoming missiles and destroyed drones in the air. This clash occurred amid reports that U.S. and Iranian officials were reportedly discussing plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864597915854857/
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