U.S. forces struck two key Iranian ports Thursday, targeting facilities at Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas, according to a senior U.S. official.
Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin first reported the strikes on May 7, citing the official who described them as limited action.
The goal was to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for international shipping. The official reportedly emphasized this was not a restart of the major conflict that began in late February.
Explosions rocked the areas late Thursday, according to Iranian media and local sources. Residents near Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island reported loud blasts and flashes in the sky. Some Iranian accounts described air defenses firing at small drones.
The strikes come as the Trump administration presses to clear the narrow waterway that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil.
Also Read: CIA Assessment: Iran Can Withstand U.S. Hormuz Blockade for 3-4 Months
Iran has restricted traffic since the initial U.S.-Israeli campaign in February, which targeted Iranian military sites and killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. A fragile ceasefire took hold in early April, but shipping has remained choked.
U.S. officials call the current operation Project Freedom, which is aimed at escorting stranded ships through the Strait.
American warships have escorted at least two vessels and sunk Iranian fast boats that threatened commercial traffic.
The Navy has also maintained a blockade on Iranian ports. Only a handful of ships have made it through the newly guarded routes so far. Hundreds more sit idle, their crews waiting under growing pressure.
A senior U.S. official told Griffin the latest hits focused on Bahman Pier at Qeshm Port and facilities around Bandar Abbas.
These sites support Iran’s naval operations and oil exports. Damage details remain unclear, but the action aims to break Iran’s grip on the strait without triggering another all-out war.
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Iranian officials have not yet issued a full statement on the strikes. State media played down some explosions as routine air defense drills against drones.
Hardliners in Tehran have warned of strong responses to any new attacks on their soil.
The ceasefire has held in name for nearly a month, but both sides keep testing its limits. Iran has fired missiles and drones at American forces and allies, particularly American allies that host U.S. military bases.
The U.S. has struck back at Iranian boats and, in earlier operations, hit targets on Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub.
President Donald Trump has mixed messages in recent days. He spoke regarding pausing some escort missions to give diplomacy a chance, yet kept the port blockade in place.
What the U.S. is demanding
Administration officials say back-channel talks are underway, with Pakistan helping to mediate.
The U.S. wants Iran to ensure free passage for all commercial ships. Iran demands the removal of the blockade and the lifting of the sanctions.
Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains tense, with U.S. warships still patrolling key lanes. Iranian forces are also staying on alert along their coast.
Diplomats, on the other hand, are racing against the clock before another round of fighting breaks out.
