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Iranian forces launched cruise missiles at U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels under American protection in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first significant escalation since the implementation of the ceasefire last month.<\/span><\/p>\n U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper described the actions by Iranian forces as \u201cIran initiating aggressive behavior\u201d on a call with journalists Monday.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe cruise missiles were going after both U.S. Navy ships, but mostly after commercial shipping,\u201d Cooper said. \u201cWe\u2019ve defended both ourselves and, consistent with our commitment, we defended all the commercial ships.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Cooper declined to comment on whether Iran\u2019s actions violated the ceasefire agreement. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n No U.S. Navy ships or commercial ships have been hit by Iranian strikes, which began about 12 hours ago, according to Cooper.<\/span><\/p>\n He added that Iranian forces also used drones and small boats to attack commercial ships. Cooper said six of those boats were destroyed by Apache and Seahawk helicopters.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou typically see between 20 and 40 small boats in a pack coming out,\u201d he said. \u201cToday we saw six and eliminated them quickly. I think this is an example of the degradation of their capability. That doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s all gone, but it\u2019s highly degraded.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The attacks come as President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Tehran through \u201cProject Freedom,\u201d an operation designed to restore the flow of global commerce through the narrow waterway after escalating Iranian threats.<\/span><\/p>\n Trump said Iran had already targeted vessels not related to the operation, including a South Korean cargo ship.<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps it\u2019s time for South Korea to come and join the mission!\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Cooper said the U.S. military is carrying out two simultaneous operations in two different bodies of water \u2014 one aimed at isolating Iran economically, the other at reopening maritime transit.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re enforcing the blockade in the Gulf of Oman. There is no commerce going into and out of Iran, and we will be sustaining this effort. Second, we\u2019ve now opened a passage through the Strait of Hormuz to allow for the free flow of commerce to proceed,\u201d he said, adding that the blockade has so far been 100% effective.<\/span><\/p>\n He said that the pathway, which was used by two merchant vessels flying U.S. flags earlier today, has received \u201cgreat enthusiasm\u201d from over 87 countries represented by the vessels \u201cheld hostage\u201d in the Arabian Gulf by Iran\u2019s threats in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/span><\/p>\n While the U.S. Navy is not personally escorting the vessels, it is protecting a corridor for them to pass through with large amounts of U.S. military assets.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe are employing U.S. ballistic missile defense capable destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms\u2014meaning under the sea, on the sea, and from the air\u2014and then 15,000 service members to extend this defensive umbrella across the Strait of Hormuz to protect our forces and also, as committed, to defend commercial shipping,\u201d Cooper said.<\/span><\/p>\n Aircraft, vessels, and personnel used in the efforts include A-10s, F-15s, F-16s, F\/A-18s, F-35s, EA-18 Growlers, RC-135s, KC-46s, and KC-135 fixed-wing aircraft, as well as numerous U.S. warships, including destroyers, two carrier strike groups, an Amphibious Readiness Group, and the Marine Expeditionary Units.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As the operations continue, Cooper said U.S. commanders on the scene \u201chave all the authorities necessary to defend their units and to defend commercial shipping.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n