US forces destroyed two small Iranian boats after detecting an attempt to seize a US Navy unmanned vessel while it was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, according to a US official who said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel used the boats in the operation. The official said a US drone fired two missiles at the boats, destroying them and killing most of those aboard.
US command confirms attempted seizure
Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command, confirmed the attempted seizure, saying small Iranian boats tried to take control of a US unmanned maritime vessel before the command responded forcefully. Hawkins added that the unmanned vessel remains under US operational control.
The incident comes amid US-led efforts to protect commercial shipping and restore vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to normal levels. In a different account, Iranian media reported that two fishing boats were struck off the coast of Kargan, near Lark Island in Hormozgan province.
Ahmad Nafisi, the provincial deputy governor for security affairs, said the strike was attributed to the US military, noting that an unspecified number of fishermen were missing and that search-and-rescue operations were continuing. According to a US official, US and Gulf forces have recently begun escorting oil tankers through the strait during the day, after crossings had largely been concentrated at night in recent months.
Expanding measures to protect navigation in the strait
US forces have also expanded mine-cleared areas in the central shipping lane to reduce risks for commercial vessels.
