Middle East latest: IRGC says two oil tankers caught fire after hitting sea mines in Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guards reported on Saturday that two oil tankers were hit by mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway where Tehran has imposed restrictions on navigation. The explosions occurred shortly after the tankers had disabled their radar and positioning systems, attempting to transit the strait through an unauthorized route.

The Guards' navy released a statement, though it did not disclose the names or origins of the vessels, except to confirm that one was a supertanker. Both tankers exploded and caught fire after colliding with a naval mine. In retaliation for the strait's blockade, the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and offers military support to tankers navigating the waterway.

Iran's armed forces have reported multiple fires or explosions on ships in the strait in recent weeks, often attributing them to mines. On Friday, the Guards released footage of a large plume of smoke emanating from a vessel they claimed was carrying liquefied gas and struck by a mine in the southern portion of the strait. However, the U.S. military asserts that they have cleared the primary routes through the waterway of mines.