Iran Accuses US of Attacking Civilian Vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Killing Five
Theo Middle East Eye
Iranian state media reports five civilians were killed after US forces attacked civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. An Iranian official called the US actions reckless. The US says it targeted Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping.
According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency and other state media, five people have been killed after US forces attacked vessels described by Iran as civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
An Iranian military official said the targeted boats were “two small cargo ships carrying civilians traveling from Khasab on the coast of Oman toward the Iranian coast.”
The official added: “The reckless and clumsy behavior of the enemy stems from the excessive fear and nightmares of the US military regarding high-speed boat operations by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).”
For its part, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had targeted “Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping” and confirmed that “helicopters were used to remove” these vessels.
The US insists the boats were trying to interfere with maritime traffic, while Iran denies that they were linked to the IRGC.
