In a bold and highly precise strike on day 27 of the 2026 US-Iran war, Iranian forces have launched an Al-Qadr ballistic missile directly at a U.S. Aircraft Carrier Strike Group operating in the contested Strait of Hormuz.

The advanced Al-Qadr missile penetrated layered American defenses and slammed into the strike group, triggering powerful explosions aboard one of the escort vessels and causing significant damage to the carrier’s flight operations. Thick smoke and flames were reported rising from the formation as the group maneuvered under attack. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps sources described the strike as “devastating and accurate,” claiming it successfully disrupted the carrier group’s ability to conduct air operations in the critical waterway.

This direct ᴀssault on one of America’s most powerful naval formations comes as Iran continues to ᴀssert dominance over the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow chokepoint remains a war zone, with burning Western tankers still drifting and global shipping heavily disrupted. The Al-Qadr strike sends a clear warning: no U.S. naval ᴀsset is safe in these waters.

The attack adds to Iran’s impressive list of battlefield achievements in recent days: destruction of five U.S. KC-135 flying tankers at Prince Sultan Air Base, downing of three F-22 Raptors, successful penetration of Israel’s Iron Dome with the 2-ton hypersonic missile, devastating cluster attacks on Tel Aviv, and the fiery wiping out of Patriot batteries, Tomahawks, and drones in mᴀssive armoury strikes.

U.S. Central Command confirms nearly 200 American troops injured across the region, with the death toll at 13. President Donald Trump has repeatedly admitted the U.S. was caught off guard by the scale and sophistication of Iran’s retaliation.

The USS Tripoli remains positioned nearby, leading efforts to reopen the Strait, while B-2 Spirit bombers continue targeting Iranian sites. However, Iran’s latest strike proves its missiles can still reach high-value naval targets despite American air and sea superiority.

Brent crude prices are holding above $112 per barrel as markets panic over the possibility of prolonged closure of the world’s most vital energy route.

The war has entered an even more dangerous phase. With an Al-Qadr missile now striking a U.S. carrier strike group in the heart of the Gulf, Iran has once again shown it is capable of hitting America where it hurts most.

The situation is extremely tense and developing rapidly.