US Central Command said American forces intercepted missiles, drones and small boats launched during the attack, and that no US vessels were hit.
CENTCOM said the retaliatory strikes targeted Iranian military sites responsible for the assault.
Iran accused Washington of violating a fragile ceasefire, claiming US forces had struck ships and civilian areas near the strait. The US rejected that characterization, saying its actions were defensive.
The incident marks another escalation around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route, amid efforts to preserve a ceasefire and negotiate an end to the conflict.
The United States struck Iranian military targets on Thursday after Tehran’s forces attacked three American destroyers that were transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the US military said.
“Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats” at the three warships, but none were hit, the US military’s Central Command said in a post on X.
US forces “eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible” for the attack, it added.