U.S. Launches Self-Defense Strikes In Southern Iran

U.S. CENTCOM has announced U.S. Forces conducted self-defense strikes in Southern Iran on Monday.

In a statement U.S. CENTCOM revealed the strikes were launched on several Iranian vessels after CENTCOM received intel that Iran was attempting to place new mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

An Iranian surface to air missile launcher was also targeted in the strikes after it reportedly attempted to target U.S. warplanes.

Fox News was the first to report on the self-defense strikes and had the following details to add:

The U.S. military carried out “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran on Monday, targeting missile launch sites and Iranian boats, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

“U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said.

“Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines. U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins said.

According to a senior U.S. official, two Iranian boats were spotted laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, while forces also responded after a missile site had targeted U.S. warplanes.

The U.S. military eliminated both IRGC vessels and also struck the SAM, or surface-to-air missile, site in Bandar Abbas.

“These were defensive strikes,” the official told Fox News. The strikes do not indicate the ceasefire with Iran is over, two additional sources said.

This came after explosions were heard Monday in various regions across the Strait of Hormuz, with one explosion heard in Iran’s Bandar Abbas in the country’s south.

Other explosions were reported close to Sirik and Jask near the strategic waterway. The official confirmed Monday that the U.S. strikes were “over for now.”

Here’s a video of the attack:

Footage allegedly shared by a U.S. soldier appears to show HIMARS missile launches targeting Iran from an undisclosed Gulf nation during the recent U.S.-Iran conflict. pic.twitter.com/Oh4sEDjMOD

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 25, 2026

Fox News provided some photos:

JUST IN: The U.S. military carried out “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran Monday, targeting missile launch sites and Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM says the strikes were launched after Iranian forces were spotted laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz and a… pic.twitter.com/DCg1sEkTbg

— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 26, 2026

Iran has since responded to the strikes claiming the U.S. violated its ceasefire agreement.

CBS News provided the Iranian regime’s full response to the strikes:

Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. on Tuesday of a “grave violation of the ceasefire” for launching attacks overnight on southern Iran, including strikes on boats in the Strait of Hormuz that state media said had killed at least four members of the Islamic Republic’s naval forces.

The U.S. military’s Central Command said it carried out “self-defense strikes” to protect forces in the region, targeting missile launch sites and boats trying to lay sea mines.

Iran said the U.S. “committed a grave violation of the ceasefire in the Hormozgan region” with the strikes.

“The commission of these acts of aggression, coinciding with the ongoing diplomatic process mediated by Pakistan, once again exposes the ill intent and bad faith of the U.S. ruling establishment to the people of Iran, the people of the region, and the international community,” the ministry said in its statement.

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Here’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s latest comments on Iran:

Speaking during the final leg of his visit to India, Secretary of State Marco Rubio pressed for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz as soon as an agreement with Iran is reached, saying the strait will be open, "one way or the other."

Follow live updates: https://t.co/MIlmjCgS3u pic.twitter.com/GI8eSMRrTR

— ABC News (@ABC) May 26, 2026

The new wave of strikes may hinder the current peace talks between the U.S. and Iran.

What are your thoughts?