The US military destroyed two Iranian small boats on Monday after Iranian forces allegedly attempted to seize a US Navy unmanned surface vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Axios, the Iranian vessels attempted to take control of the American unmanned surface vessel while it was operating in the strategically important waterway.
US forces detected the attempted seizure and responded with military force.
A US official told Axios that an American unmanned aircraft fired two missiles at the Iranian boats after US personnel identified the attempt to capture the Navy drone.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed the confrontation, saying Iranian small boats had recently attempted to take possession of a US unmanned surface vessel but failed following a forceful American response.
“Iranian small boats recently attempted to take possession of a US unmanned surface vessel, but they were unsuccessful after CENTCOM forcefully responded,” Hawkins said, according to Axios.
He added that the unmanned surface vessel remained under American control following the confrontation.
The reported US strike came amid heightened tensions in and around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important maritime routes for global energy shipments.
The United States has been working to expand protected commercial traffic through the waterway, according to Axios.
Iranian media separately reported that two fishing boats had been struck near Kargan and Larak Island in Hormozgan province.
A provincial official said several fishermen were missing after the incident, prompting search-and-rescue efforts.
It was not immediately clear whether the Iranian reports concerning the fishing boats referred to the same vessels involved in the US military's reported engagement.
The latest confrontation adds to tensions between Washington and Tehran and highlights the risks facing military and commercial vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz, where encounters between Iranian and US forces have previously raised concerns about wider escalation.
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