US claims destruction of Iranian boats, Iran denies reports via state media
A US official is looking into the waters near Hormuz on board US naval destroyer. PHOTO CENTCOM X
The US military said it destroyed six Iranian small boats and also intercepted cruise missiles and a drone, but Iran denied the claims.
Earlier, the US military said on Monday it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted cruise missiles and drones launched by Tehran, as Washington began an operation to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
US Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, declined to comment on whether a ceasefire that began on April 8 remained in effect. However, he acknowledged ongoing efforts by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to “interfere” with President Donald Trump’s operation to reopen the critical waterway to commercial traffic.
“The IRGC has launched multiple cruise missiles, drones, and small boats at ships we are protecting. We have defeated each and every one of those threats through the clinical application of defensive munitions,” he said.
Read More: UAE's Fujairah says fire breaks out at petroleum complex after Iranian drone attack
Cooper said he had “strongly advised” Iranian forces to remain well clear of US military assets during the operation, which involved 15,000 US troops, Navy destroyed, more than 100 land- and sea-based aircraft, and undersea assets.
“The US commanders who are on the scene have all the authorities necessary to defend their units and to defend commercial shipping,” he said.
Senior military official rejects as false US claim of sinking a number of Iranian attack boats in Persian Gulf
Follow: https://t.co/mLGcUTS2ei pic.twitter.com/HEbU1ASP0bAsked whether the US military was escorting vessels, Cooper said there were no traditional escorts. Instead, a broader, multi-layered defensive system was in place, including ships, helicopters, aircraft, and electronic warfare capabilities.
“If you're escorting a ship, you're playing kind of one-on-one. I think we have a much better defensive arrangement in this process,” he said. “We have a much broader defensive package than you would have ever had if you were just escorting.”
Cooper added that a US blockade of Iran—preventing ships from entering or leaving Iranian territory—remained in effect and was exceeding expectations.
Iran denied the attacks
A senior military official denied a US claim that several Iranian military boats had been sunk, Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported.
Earlier, the authorities in the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah said on Monday that a fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone following what they described as a drone attack originating from Iran.
Civil defence teams were deployed immediately to contain the blaze, Fujairah Media Office said in a statement.
The UAE Defence Ministry said in a post on X, "The UAE has intercepted three missiles fired from Iran over its territorial waters, with a fourth missile crashing into the sea."
Four cruise missiles launched from Iran were detected toward various areas across the country. Three were successfully engaged over the country’s territorial waters, while one fell in the sea.
The Ministry of Defense affirmed that the sounds heard in different parts of the… pic.twitter.com/ugwPRCcY24The statement added that, "The Ministry of Defence affirmed that the sounds heard in different parts of the country are a result of air defence systems engaging threats."
"The ministry urged the public to obtain information from official sources and comply with all public safety procedures when warning messages are issued to the public," it said.
There was no immediate comment from Iran. However, Iranian state media, citing a senior military official, said that Iran had no plan to target the UAE.