The United States military has destroyed two Iranian boats after members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly attempted to seize control of a US unmanned vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by US news outlet Axios.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the Iranian boats attempted to take control of an American unmanned drone recently. The attempt was thwarted after the US vessel launched missiles at the Iranian boats, CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said.
Hawkins said the unmanned vessel remains fully under US control following the incident.
The boats destroyed on Monday were described by Iranian media as fishing vessels, with reports that several fishermen had gone missing. However, a US official told Axios that the vessels were military boats operated by the IRGC.
The incident comes as tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies.
A US official also told Axios that the US Navy has expanded its escort operations for oil tankers transiting the strait. While US forces had previously escorted tankers only at night, American warships are now providing protection during the daytime as well.
About 40 vessels are currently passing through the Strait of Hormuz each day, carrying roughly 14 million barrels of oil, according to the official.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
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