"U.S. Destroys Iranian Fishing Boats Attempting to Capture U.S. Unmanned Surface Vessel in Strait of Hormuz"

▲ Ships in the Strait of Hormuz (The photo above is unrelated to the content of the article.)

Two Iranian fishing boats previously reported to have been struck by a drone attack in the Strait of Hormuz were actually targeted and attacked by the U.S. military after attempting to capture a U.S. unmanned surface vessel, according to reports from U.S. media.

Citing a U.S. official, U.S. internet outlet Axios reported on the 15th (local time) that "the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to seize a U.S. Navy drone patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the U.S. military to destroy two small Iranian vessels."

While the U.S. military did not publicize the incident, Iranian media reported it as an event where two Iranian fishing boats were hit by a drone attack, leaving multiple fishermen missing.

Iran's state-run IRIB broadcaster aired remarks from the deputy governor for political, security, and social affairs of Hormozgan Province, who stated the previous day that "two fishing boats were attacked by a drone of the 'criminal enemy' near the port of Kangan in the Persian Gulf," off the coast of Hormozgan Province in southern Iran.

"As a result of the attack, several fishermen on board the vessels are missing," the official added.

Iran typically refers to the United States or Israel as the "criminal enemy."

A U.S. official told Axios that "the IRGC used these vessels to try to capture a U.S. Navy drone used for patrols in the Strait of Hormuz," adding that "upon detecting this, a U.S. military drone fired two missiles, destroying the vessels and killing most of those on board."

Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command overseeing the war with Iran, confirmed Iran's attempted seizure, stating, "Recently, small Iranian vessels attempted to hijack a U.S. unmanned surface vessel, but the attempt failed as the Central Command responded resolutely."

Axios pointed out that "this unusual incident shows that efforts to restore normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz are still resulting in direct clashes with Iran."

U.S. President Donald Trump has previously claimed that all underwater mines laid by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz have been removed and that oil tankers are operating normally under the protection of the U.S. military.

A battle of truth between the U.S. military and the IRGC regarding the mines in the Strait of Hormuz is also ongoing.

The IRGC Navy stated the previous day that the EL GAIA, a 28,799-ton very large crude carrier flagged under Panama that was attempting to pass through the controlled zone in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, struck a mine and burst into flames.

In response, the Central Command denied the claim on X the previous day, stating, "This is false." It asserted that the El Gaia "was rendered inoperable after being hit by an Iranian missile last month," and that "Iran attacked this oil tanker with a drone again this weekend while it was anchored off the coast of Oman," maintaining that it was not struck by a mine.

The Central Command added that the oil tanker is "currently being towed by regional partners," and that "the IRGC's false claims are yet another example of lies and intimidation amid attempts to disrupt commercial shipping passing through the Strait of Hormuz."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

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