Six small Iranian boats were sunk by US forces as Tehran said it had struck an American vessel, prompting the United Arab Emirates to report missile and drone attacks. The UAE Defense Ministry said four cruise missiles were launched, three were intercepted and one fell into the sea, and authorities in Fujairah blamed an Iranian drone for a fire that wounded three Indian nationals. Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said US helicopters used to sink six boats had also helped reopen a passage through the Strait of Hormuz and that no US Navy ships had been hit. Reports of attacks have already raised doubts about whether shipping firms and insurers will accept the risk of transit.
US forces sank six small boats that were threatening commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Adm. Brad Cooper said on Monday.
The action was part of a US effort to reopen a corridor for merchant traffic through the strait.
Cooper said US helicopters, including AH-64 Apache and MH-60 Seahawk models, were used in the operation. He said the American force had defeated "each and every" threat it faced. The operation was described by US officials as defensive and aimed at protecting shipping that had been stranded or shut out of the waterway.
Clashes near the strait
The United Arab Emirates reported it had been struck by missiles and drones. The UAE Defense Ministry said four cruise missiles were fired from Iran, with three intercepted and one crashing into the sea. Fujairah authorities said an Iranian drone started a fire at a key oil facility and that three Indian nationals were wounded.
British military monitors reported cargo vessels ablaze off the UAE coast, and a South Korean carrier reported a fire in its engine room near the strait, according to shipping updates.
The US-led Joint Maritime Information Center advised ships to transit in Omani waters, announcing an "enhanced security area" to protect commercial traffic. The US military said two American-flagged merchant ships transited the strait under its protection on Monday.
Claims, denials and local alert
Iran's navy and state media said they had struck at least one US vessel near the port of Jask and had prevented a US ship entering the strait. Fars news agency said two missiles hit a ship. The Iranian military warned that foreign armed forces attempting to enter the strait would be attacked unless movements were coordinated with Tehran's forces.
But US Central Command denied that any US warship had been hit. Cooper told reporters that some cruise missiles fired by Iran had also targeted US vessels, yet no US Navy ships were struck. The contrasting accounts underline the fog around fast-moving maritime attacks.
The UAE urged residents to follow official safety instructions and to rely on government channels for information. It raised travel and security alerts for parts of the country and asked the public to heed public safety measures.
Shipping and insurance groups now face a difficult choice. The strait is a vital global chokepoint for oil and gas shipments. Iran's earlier effective closure had pushed up global fuel prices and rattled markets. Reopening a safe lane would ease pressure, but the new clashes may deter shipowners and insurers from transiting the waterway.
US officials called the operation to reopen the strait "Project Freedom." Cooper said the mission to restore commercial traffic is separate from other US military operations and that commanders on scene have authority to defend their units and protected vessels.
The immediate tactical picture is mixed. US forces say they repelled missile, drone and small-boat attacks and sank six boats. Iran's state outlets insist strikes landed on foreign vessels and issued a warning to any armed ships attempting transit without coordination. Local authorities reported damage to at least one oil facility and injuries to foreign workers.
Regional and commercial effects
Ships and insurers will weigh the new risk. The US action aims to remove mines and hostile craft from a defined corridor.
Related Articles
- 13th-century Buddha returns to Nepal after decades abroad
- Iran war: oil and big tech profit as markets rise
- Chevron forecasts $1.6-$2.2bn Q1 boost after Iran conflict
Admiral Brad Cooper said US forces had defeated "each and every" threat they faced.
This article was created with AI assistance.
