Battle for Hormuz begins as U.S. military fights off Iranian attacks while seeking to break regime's grip on ship traffic through strait

(Credit: U.S. Navy)

The months-long standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has reached a potentially decisive moment with the U.S. military engaged in combat in the contested waterway to help commercial ships exit the Persian Gulf.

Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper said Monday that U.S. forces destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones.