When was the last time the United States and Iran went to war for 24 hours?

The US-Iran 24-hour war was on the verge of escalating into a full-fledged battle that would have ended in a new global war. Check out today's spectacular narrative to see how Iran and the US refused to back down and how a massive conflict was almost avoided! 😂😤🤯

14th of April, 1988, Persian Gulf Years of deadly hostilities between Iran and Iraq have led to both countries starting to attack oil tankers in the Persian Gulf in an effort to hurt the other's economies. Both sides have been severely damaging friendly and neutral shipping passing through the area by employing speed boats armed with heavy machine guns and rocket launchers, Exocett anti-ship missiles, and Silkworm shore-based missile batteries. As a result of numerous requests for protection for their ships from the Soviet Union and the United States, the Soviets personally sponsored several of the ships, and the US moved its navy into the area. However, Iran has also used anti-ship mines, which are indiscriminate killers, as a fourth weapon.

The USS Samuel B. Roberts, a guided missile frigate, strikes an Iranian mine without prior notice, causing a significant hole to be blown in the hull. Amazingly, no one is killed, but the crew suffers severe burns in large numbers, and the ship is rapidly absorbing water. The ship manages to limp back to a friendly port, where it will later be shipped to the US via a recovery vessel after the expertly trained crew quickly implements damage control measures. While this is happening, navy divers locate numerous mines in the area and link the serial numbers to a ship that was seized by the US a year earlier and had been modified by Iran to lay mines. The United States of America has now turned its full attention to the infamous tanker war being fought between Iran and Iraq, prompting the formation of three distinct Surface Action Groups.

President Ronald Reagan has ordered the US Navy to take action he deems proportionate in an effort to stop Iran from escalating its regional aggression. A 24-hour war between the US and Iran will be the outcome. The Navy gets ready to launch an attack on April 18, four days later. The SAGs are working toward two goals while being supported by aircraft from the aircraft carrier Enterprise. First, destroy Sabalan, an Iranian Saam-class frigate, or a suitable replacement vessel of equivalent military strength. Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Gulf will be severely hampered, and the Iranian regime will incur a sizable cost as a result of its ongoing attacks on shipping.

The devastation of Iranian observation posts on the oil platforms in Sassan, Sirri, and Rahkish is the second goal. These platforms no longer support oil production, but Iranian forces are still using them to plan attacks in the Gulf. Iran will find it much more challenging to direct shore-based fire or direct its fleet of small attack craft to waiting targets if they are destroyed. Last but not least, the navy must exert all reasonable efforts to prevent or minimize harm to civilians and the environment as a result of attacks on the old oil platforms. Sassan and Rahkish platforms are given to Surface Action Group Bravo, and Sirri is given to SAG Charile. The Sabalan will be faced by SAG Delta, and it will be wiped out.

In case of Iranian retaliation, the Perry-class frigate USS Gary will continue to be on standby to offer direct support to any of the three SAGs and to protect passing civilian traffic. SAG Bravo approaches the Sassan platform at 8:00. The Iranian platform receives a radio alert that it is about to be attacked as US Marines board transport helicopters and fly off into the distance. The Iranians are given 20 minutes by the Americans to leave the platform after receiving their order. The Iranian defenders, on the other hand, do not appear to be in the mood to give up and switch to manning several 23-mm Zu-23 guns. The US ships start firing their main guns as the deadline approaches and is eventually reached.

Explosive shells strike the superstructure of the platform, tearing and twisting metal and shooting deadly splinters across each platform. The Iranian defenders desperately try to retaliate by firing their AA guns, but the twin Zu-23 cannons have little chance of doing anything other than scratching the paint on the American ships. Meanwhile, the US ships make a number of direct hits on gun positions, taking out both the operators and the guns. Finally, some Iranians have broadcast an appeal for a halt to the fighting so they can flee. In compliance, the US ships let a number of Iranians board tugboats, which they then used to escape the platform. Hardliners, however, are unwilling to give up, and as soon as their countrymen are safely out of firing range, they start firing again on the US ships.

The American destroyers USS Merrill and Lynde McCormick fired back with pinpoint accuracy, decimating the remaining guns and putting them into permanent silence. In doing so, the USS Trenton's Cobra attack helicopters can strafe the platforms with cannon and rocket fire, eliminating any lingering resistance. In their transport birds, US Marines finally reach the platform where they search the twisted wreckage for survivors and intelligence. One wounded survivor is found and immediately medevaced as the Marines lay explosive charges to bring the platform down. A similar pattern emerges in the nearby attack on the Sirri platform, with Iranian defenders briefly exchanging useless fire with the US ships before leaving the platform.

The US Navy SEALs who were on their way to land on the platform and plant demolition charges as well as search for survivors and intelligence are forced to turn around due to the fierce bombardment by US ships that have set the platform on fire. As a result of the excessive intensity of the fire, Iran no longer considers the platform to be usable. A patrol boat from Iran, the Joshan, quickly approaches SAG Charlie two hours later in an attempt to exact revenge on the Americans. Although the small boat cannot compete with the US frigates and destroyers, it has no intention of engaging them in combat. The US ships will be attacked with American-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles, which were delivered to Iran prior to the revolution.

As soon as SAG Charlie notices the potential danger, he radios a warning to the Joshans, but it is ignored. The world's first ship-to-ship missile duel has just begun when all of a sudden, air defense radars on the American ships begin to illuminate. The US ships launch defensive maneuvers right away, taking a zigzag course to make it more difficult for the missile to find its target. Nevertheless, the missile was launched from a distance of 13 miles, giving the US ships little opportunity to defend themselves.

Normal circumstances would prevent any hostile ship from approaching this close of a range without being engaged, but the Americans have been expressly instructed not to escalate the situation further than is absolutely necessary. The US Navy's efforts to avoid escalating hostilities further are the only reason the Joshan has survived up to this point; however, it is now fair game. The Harpoon missile splashes safely into the ocean after the Americans fire chaff to confuse the missile's guidance system.