The attack began suddenly, shattering the illusion of control over the Strait of Hormuz. For years, transits had followed a tense but predictable routine: surveillance, warnings, and cautious maneuvers. One missile changed everything. What Iran believed would be a measured escalation faced the speed, coordination, and discipline of U.S. forces.
At 2:31 PM, anti-ship missiles launched from the coast, immediately lighting up radar screens. USS Theodore Roosevelt operators confirmed: “Multiple inbound. Confirmed hostile.” The crew reacted with years of training compressed into seconds. Iranian missiles surged toward the carrier group, but Aegis-equipped destroyers launched SM-2 interceptors with mechanical precision.
Close-in weapons systems and electronic countermeasures activated, forming layers of defense. Automated cannons fired tungsten streams, decoys confused guidance systems, and every system worked in concert. The crew stayed calm and disciplined. Within twelve minutes, more than half the incoming missiles were destroyed, and not a single one hit the carrier.
The U.S. then struck back. Tomahawk missiles and carrier-based aircraft targeted the batteries that had fired. Fortified positions were destroyed, radar installations collapsed, and communications broke down. Within thirty minutes, the Iranian launch sites were reduced to smoking wreckage, ending the attack as decisively as it had begun. READ MORE BELOW