US Strike Hits Iranian Fishing Boats: Two Injured Near Qeshm Island
Iran reports two fishermen injured after a US strike on boats off Qeshm Island as tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tensions in the strategic Strait of Hormuz have escalated further after Iran claimed that the United States targeted two fishing boats off Qeshm Island, leaving two Iranian fishermen injured. The incident, which occurred around 11:30 am, took place within 18 miles of Musan village in Qeshm County.
Rescue and Casualties
According to the CEO of the Qeshm Fishing Community and reports from IRNA, the two fishermen who initially went missing following the drone attack have been located and returned to Qeshm Island. However, the attack left them wounded, with one of the injured men being rushed to a hospital for urgent medical care.
The deputy governor of Hormozgan Province, responsible for political, security, and social affairs, confirmed to Tasnim news agency that each of the two targeted boats was carrying two occupants at the time of the strike.
Clashes in the Strait of Hormuz
This drone attack is the latest in a series of violent encounters in the region. Just this past Friday, Iranian naval forces claimed a significant victory, stating they had destroyed an "enemy submarine" operating in the sector east of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian Navy's Public Relations department, via state media IRIB, asserted that their sailors successfully hit and destroyed the adversary vessel. Additionally, Iranian forces reportedly damaged two commercial oil tankers within the same operational zone.
The US Perspective: Clearing the Waterways
In contrast to the reports of aggression, Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), provided a different account of the situation in the waterway. He stated that primary internationally recognized transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz have been successfully cleared of Iranian sea mines.
Admiral Cooper noted that commercial vessels—including those carrying crude oil, cargo, and liquid natural gas (LNG)—are sailing freely. He highlighted the presence of U.S. assets in the area, including a squadron of advanced sea drones patrolling to maintain a "defensive layer."
Iran Vows 'Unrestricted' Response
As the threat of further strikes looms, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a stern directive to his military leadership. Following a meeting with senior armed forces commanders, Khamenei ordered that all threats be met with an "immediate, effective, and unrestricted geographical response."
The directive, shared via X, emphasizes that Iran will not limit its reaction to specific areas, signaling a potential for wider escalation in the ongoing confrontation between Tehran and Washington.