US reports 10+ Iran attacks on forces but rules out wider war escalation

05/05/2026

WASHINGTON, May 5: Iranian attacks on US forces and commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf have so far remained below the level that would trigger a broader military conflict, a senior US military official said.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine said Iranian forces had carried out more than 10 attacks on US troops, but described them as “all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations.”

He also said Iran had targeted commercial vessels nine times and seized two container ships since a ceasefire was announced, calling the actions part of a wider effort to disrupt global trade in the region.

According to Caine, around 22,500 mariners aboard more than 1,550 commercial vessels remain stranded in the Persian Gulf due to ongoing disruption.

He added that Iran’s activities were affecting a vital maritime corridor responsible for roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption. US forces, he said, are continuing efforts to secure shipping lanes and ensure freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway.