Iran says US struck two civilian cargo boats in Hormuz
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- Iran says US strike in Hormuz hit civilian boats, killing five people.
- Washington says the targeted vessels posed a threat to commercial shipping.
Iranian news agency Tasnim, citing a military source, reported that US forces struck two civilian cargo boats in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, rejecting Washington’s claim that the vessels were military speedboats.
According to the source, the two small boats were transporting goods and civilians from Khasab on Oman’s coast toward Iran when they were targeted by US forces, killing five people.
The source said Iranian authorities launched an investigation following US reports of the incident, concluding that American forces had opened fire on civilian vessels rather than boats linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
The official described the incident as a “reckless and clumsy” act driven by what he called US military fears over Iranian fast-boat operations in the strategic waterway.
The United States Central Command said Seahawk and Apache attack helicopters were used to destroy small Iranian boats that it said posed a threat to commercial navigation.
Washington said the vessels were destroyed while attempting to interfere with maritime traffic during ongoing US operations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
