Two U.S. sources told the AP that U.S. forces shot down four Iranian drones and struck a base from which a fifth drone was about to be launched.
The Iranian pro-regime news agency Fars previously reported explosions east of the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz, according to CNN.
Iranian air defenses were reported to have been temporarily activated after the explosions were heard at 1:30 a.m. local time.
A U.S. source told NBC News that the United States carried out strikes near Bandar Abbas. The source described them as defensive, saying the drones posed a threat, and said the strikes were limited and did not indicate a renewed, more extensive campaign against Iran. The source also said the drones that were shot down came from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and did not hit either civilian or military targets.
Earlier this week, the United States carried out attacks on Iran that the U.S. described as self-defense. Iran, however, called them a violation of the ceasefire.
The events are taking place as negotiations are underway to end the war involving Iran, which began three months ago.
