US launches ‘self-defense’ strikes against Iran amid ongoing ceasefire

The U.S. military on Monday conducted “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, U.S. Central Command said, to prevent Iranian hostilities toward U.S. troops.

The strikes targeted missile launch sites and Iranian boats that were in the process of laying mines, according to Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a U.S. Central Command spokesperson.

“U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins said.

The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran began on April 12, though it has been tested it several times in recent weeks as the U.S. has fired on Iranian-flagged oil tankers and launched retaliatory military strikes against Iran.

U.S. forces destroyed six Iranian small boats on May 4 after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps dispatched them toward Navy vessels escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

On May 7, the U.S. fired at Iranian missile and drone launch sites, command-and-control locations, and intelligence and surveillance hubs after “unprovoked” Iranian attacks on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta and USS Mason.

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS George H.W. Bush launched “precision munitions” at the smokestacks of two Iranian-flagged unladen oil tankers on May 8 as they transited toward an Iranian port in violation of the U.S. Navy blockade.

Iran reportedly accused the U.S. of violating the ceasefire after the Monday self-defense strikes.

The Trump administration is currently working to engineer a peace deal that would include a 60-day ceasefire extension, a stop to military activity and a commitment from Iran to end its nuclear program.

President Trump announced on Truth Social on Monday his preferred process for the destruction of Iran’s nuclear materials.

“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, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event,” Trump said.

Riley Ceder is a Navy reporter at Military Times, where he covers issues directly affecting service members and their families, as well as breaking news.

美国中央司令部称，美军周一在伊朗南部进行了“自卫”打击，以防止伊朗对美军发动敌对行动。

据美国中央司令部发言人、海军上校蒂姆·霍金斯称，此次空袭的目标是导弹发射场和正在布雷的伊朗船只。

霍金斯说：“美国中央司令部在持续的停火期间保持克制，同时继续保卫我们的部队。”

美国和伊朗之间的停火协议于4月12日生效，但最近几周，由于美国向悬挂伊朗国旗的油轮开火并对伊朗发动报复性军事打击，该协议已多次受到考验。

5月4日，伊朗伊斯兰革命卫队向护送船只通过霍尔木兹海峡的美国海军舰艇发射了6艘伊朗小型船只，随后美军将其摧毁。

5月7日，在伊朗对阿利·伯克级驱逐舰“特鲁克斯顿”号、“拉斐尔·佩拉尔塔”号和“梅森”号发动“无端”袭击后，美国向伊朗的导弹和无人机发射场、指挥控制地点以及情报和监视中心开火。

5月8日，一架美国海军F/A-18超级大黄蜂战斗机从乔治·H·W·布什号航空母舰上起飞，向两艘悬挂伊朗国旗的空油轮的烟囱发射了“精确制导武器”。当时，这两艘油轮违反美国海军的封锁，正驶往伊朗港口。

据报道，伊朗在周一的自卫性打击后指责美国违反了停火协议。

特朗普政府目前正努力促成一项和平协议，其中包括将停火期限延长 60 天、停止军事活动以及伊朗承诺结束其核计划。

周一，特朗​​普总统在 Truth Social 上宣布了他销毁伊朗核材料的首选方案。

特朗普说：“浓缩铀（核尘！）要么立即移交给美国，运回国内销毁；要么最好是与伊朗伊斯兰共和国合作，就地销毁，或在其他可接受的地点销毁，原子能委员会或其同等机构将见证这一过程和事件。”

Riley Ceder 是《军事时报》的海军记者，他负责报道直接影响军人及其家属的问题以及突发新闻。