U.S. Destroys Iranian Small Boats, Shoots Down Missiles And Drones As It Attempts To Open Strait Of Hormuz

WASHINGTON, May 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Monday it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones fired by Tehran as it sought to thwart a new U.S. naval effort to open shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. President Donald Trump launched the operation, called Project Freedom, on Monday as he sought to wrest control of the critical waterway from Iran after it effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. and Israel started the conflict on February 28.

U.S. Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of Central Command, declined to comment on whether he thought a ceasefire begun on April 8 remained in effect as Iran lashed out in region, including with drone and missile attacks on the UAE on Monday.

But Cooper acknowledged ongoing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps efforts to “interfere” with Trump’s operation.

“The IRGC has launched multiple cruise missiles, drones and small boats at ships we are protecting. We have defeated each and every one of those threats through the clinical application of defensive munitions,” he said.