Iran launches first electro-optical missile strike on U.S. warships, attack intercepted
Iran's Revolutionary Guard fired electro-optical missiles at U.S. vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, but U.S. Central Command said the missiles were intercepted, marking the first known use of the new weapon system.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired a wave of missiles overnight that targeted U.S. warships near the Strait of Hormuz and a U.S. base in Jordan, according to U.S. Central Command. The missiles were described as electro-optical, employing cameras and light sensors for guidance, and represent the first reported use of the system, which Iran has called the Qassem Bassir.
U.S. officials confirmed that the missiles were intercepted and the attack failed, as was a simultaneous strike on the Jordanian target. The IRGC said the launches were a response to recent U.S. strikes that damaged five oil tankers near Iran's Kharg Island facility.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the operation introduced a "special anti-destroyer" missile and reflected a new defensive approach. Iran also warned of possible attacks on oil tankers and facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, urging crews to evacuate.
The series of retaliatory strikes has heightened concerns about navigation safety in the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about 20% of global oil shipments, and contributed to a rise in crude prices above $100 a barrel.