Claim that 'fishing boats' struck by US in Iran belong to Revolutionary Guard

The US-based news site Axios has claimed that two fishing boats struck by the US with a drone yesterday off the coast of Minab, in Iran's Hormozgan province, belonged to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The report stated that the boats were attempting to seize a US unmanned surface vessel (USV).

A US official stated that the US Navy destroyed the boats in question with two missiles fired from a drone. The US official also said that the US Navy ensures the passage of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz not only at night but also during daylight hours. The official noted that an average of 40 ships pass through the strait daily, carrying 14 million barrels of oil.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins stated, "Small Iranian boats recently attempted to seize a US unmanned surface vessel but were unsuccessful following the decisive intervention of CENTCOM forces. The USV remains under US operational control."

On the other hand, Iranian media had reported that the vessels in question were fishing boats and that the fishermen went missing following the attack.

News Source: 12punto