IRGC says 11 tankers caught fire in Hormuz since CENTCOM head’s visit
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- Iran’s IRGC Navy says 11 oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz since October 25, with several reportedly sinking.
- The incidents occurred within nine days of a visit to the strategic waterway by US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy says 11 oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz since October 25, with several subsequently sinking.
In a statement, the IRGC Navy said the vessels had been “violating” navigational rules in the strategic waterway. It did not provide further details about the vessels, the causes of the fires or the extent of the damage.
The incidents reportedly occurred within a nine-day period following a visit to the Strait of Hormuz by US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Admiral Brad Cooper.
CENTCOM said Cooper visited the strategic waterway, where he observed the maritime operational environment from a US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
“Admiral Cooper observed the current operational environment while flying in a US Army CH-47 Chinook over the international waterway,” CENTCOM said.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy transit route, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Disruptions to shipping through the strait can have significant implications for international oil supplies and energy markets.
The IRGC Navy’s account of the tanker incidents has not been independently verified, and no further details were provided about the reported sinkings.
