A senior U.S. military official said Iranian surface-to-air missiles threatened some of the nearly two dozen U.S. Navy warships — including two aircraft carriers and their escort vessels — in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea enforcing a blockade against vessels trying to enter or leave Iranian ports. The official added that the U.S. strikes hit near Bandar Abbas, a major port and Iranian navy base.

American and Iranian forces have had other skirmishes since a cease-fire took effect about six weeks ago.