US military says it destroyed 2 small Iranian boats trying to steal a drone

The U.S. military destroyed two Iranian small boats on Monday after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attempted to seize a Navy drone patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials. The incident, which initially went unreported by the U.S. military, highlights the ongoing tensions in the region as efforts to restore normal shipping continue.

Iranian media initially reported the incident as a drone strike on fishing boats, but Iranian officials later confirmed the U.S. was responsible. Two fishing boats were reportedly struck off the coast of Kargan and Larak Island in Hormozgan province, with Iranian Deputy Governor Ahmad Nafisi stating that fishermen were missing and search-and-rescue operations were underway.

A U.S. official revealed that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps used the boats to try and capture a naval drone, which was subsequently destroyed by a U.S. drone that fired two missiles. The U.S. military maintains control over the unmanned surface vessel, which was not operational during the strike. The incident occurred as the U.S. and Gulf countries increased daytime transits of tankers through the strait amid heightened commercial activity, while fighting with the Houthis in the Red Sea has led to a rise in oil tanker traffic.