On Friday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) refuted Iran’s claim that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had destroyed an unmanned U.S. military surface vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports.
CENTCOM stated that all U.S. military unmanned surface vessels in the Middle East remain accounted for, including a squadron of advanced sea drones patrolling the Strait of Hormuz as part of its defensive capabilities, the agency said on its X social media platform.
Earlier that day, the Iranian Navy claimed it had destroyed an “enemy unmanned vessel” east of the strait, though it did not identify the vessel or its operator, according to a statement reported by the official IRNA news agency.
The Iranian Navy reported that two tankers struck naval mines and caught fire while navigating areas Iran designates as restricted, whereas the IRGC Navy said it had intercepted two tankers attempting to transit the strait via unauthorized routes.
These incidents occur amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for global energy supplies.
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