US Forces Destroy Iranian Boats in Hormuz Strait Standoff

U.S. military forces on Monday destroyed two Iranian boats that attempted to seize an American naval drone patrolling the Strait of Hormuz. A senior U.S. official revealed that Revolutionary Guard operatives used fishing boats in the attempted takeover. U.S. forces identified the maneuver and launched two missiles from a drone, destroying the boats and killing most of the crew.

Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, confirmed the details, stating that American forces responded forcefully to the Iranian attempt. "The unmanned vessel remains under U.S. operational control," he clarified. Iranian media, however, portrayed the incident as an attack on innocent fishing boats off the coast of the port city of Kangan, near Qeshm Island.

Ahmed Nafisi, deputy governor of Hormozgan province for security affairs, publicly attributed the attack to the United States. This unusual confrontation occurred as the U.S. and Gulf states are working to expand maritime trade traffic in the region. Tankers have begun transiting the strait with U.S. escort during daylight hours for the first time, to allow passage for more vessels.

This move coincides with Saudi Arabia's decision to reroute many oil tankers from the Red Sea through the strait, due to escalating conflict with Houthi rebels. To secure this busy route, U.S. forces recently expanded areas cleared of mines in the strait's central channel. Currently, an average of 40 vessels pass daily under U.S. guidance. Approximately 14 million barrels of oil are exported daily through the strait, and last week, tankers carrying liquefied natural gas and condensed petroleum gas also transited the route.