Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated again, with Iran claiming that two oil tankers caught fire after striking naval mines while transiting the strategic waterway. Iranian state media said the vessels were carrying around 2 million barrels of crude oil and accused them of switching off their positioning and radar systems before attempting to use a route Tehran had not authorised.

Remarkable scenes show the US using two attack helicopters to blow up a small wooden dhow boat. US Central Command said it destroyed the vessel as it was spying on US Navy ships in the Gulf of Oman.

By Feras Dalatey and Jonathan Saul DAMASCUS/LONDON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Iran has managed to export some liquefied petroleum gas and jet fuel since July, despite a US naval blockade, shipping intelligence showed and people involved in security said.

Iran has added a fresh batch of vessels to its blacklist for unauthorised Middle East Gulf transits, bringing the total to 121 ships. The steady growth of the list, first published in August, shows Iran’s determination to impose its control over the Strait of Hormuz even after the current conflict with the US ends.

Iran is growing more aggressive in its attacks on US warships, including an aircraft carrier — firing three strikes in the past week in a clear act of escalation not seen since the start of the war. While Iran has mainly focused its strikes on US and ...

US forces destroyed an Iranian-affiliated dhow boat on October 6 that was allegedly conducting surveillance and targeting US Navy ships in the Gulf of Oman.

U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters fire on an Iranian-affiliated surveillance boat accused of targeting U.S. Navy warships in the Gulf of Oman on October 6, 2026. (Picture source: U.S. Central Command)

The directive to turn its weapons on the boats adds a new element to the Navy's mine-clearing operations in the strait, which began this month.

U.S. forces stopped an Iranian attempt this week to steal an American surface drone patrolling waters in the Middle East, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday. The two small Iranian boats involved “were unsuccessful after CENTCOM forcefully responded ...

The U.S. military destroyed two Iranian boats after IRGC forces attempted to seize an unmanned U.S. Navy surface vessel patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, in another direct confrontation between American and Iranian forces. An American drone detected the ...