Iran’s military engaged in gunfire with the United States on Qeshm Island, located in the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Iranian state media.

The island is the largest in the Gulf, with a population of approximately 150,000 residents. Additionally, it is home to a water desalination facility, according to the Associated Press.

Furthermore, Iranian state media indicated that loud sounds and what was described as defensive fire were reported in western Tehran.

In the southern region of Iran, explosions were reported near Bandar Abbas, as stated by the semiofficial Iranian news agencies Fars and Tasnim.

In the meantime, the Central Command of the US military announced that it executed ‘defensive strikes’ in response to ‘unprovoked Iranian attacks’ in the Strait of Hormuz.

“US forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian assaults and retaliated with ‘self-defense strikes’ while US Navy guided-missile destroyers navigated through the Strait of Hormuz,” Centcom stated.

“Iranian forces launched a series of missiles, drones, and small boats as three US destroyers passed through the waterway. No US assets were impacted.”

Centcom further noted that it “neutralized incoming threats and targeted Iranian military installations responsible for assaults on U.S. forces, including missile and drone launch sites; command and control centers; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance nodes.”

It also identified the navy destroyers that it claims were targeted by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz as the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason.

It reiterated that Iranian forces fired multiple missiles, drones, and small boats while the vessels traversed the waterway, but confirmed that none were struck.

In a statement shared on social media, it added, “CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to safeguard American forces.”