US Military Sinks Two Civilian Vessels in Persian Gulf, Killing Five

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military sank two civilian cargo ships in the Persian Gulf on Monday, killing five Iranian nationals, in an incident that Pentagon officials initially described as a strike on Revolutionary Guard Corps fast boats.

The attack occurred at approximately 08:08 UTC in international waters off the coast of Oman. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the engagement, stating that U.S. forces intercepted vessels they identified as hostile IRGC fast boats attempting to approach American warships. The operation resulted in the destruction of both vessels and the deaths of five crew members.

However, Iranian officials and independent maritime observers have disputed the U.S. military's assessment. Tehran stated that the vessels were unarmed commercial cargo ships operating under Iranian flags, carrying humanitarian supplies and commercial goods. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokespeople condemned the strike as an act of aggression against civilian maritime traffic, demanding an international investigation into the incident.

The Trump administration has maintained that the vessels posed an imminent threat to U.S. naval forces in the region. A Pentagon spokesperson said the ships were moving at high speed and had ignored multiple hails from U.S. warships before being engaged. "U.S. forces acted in self-defense against what they assessed to be hostile fast attack craft," the statement read.

Maritime tracking data from the time of the incident shows the two vessels were traveling at speeds consistent with commercial cargo operations rather than military fast boats. The ships were registered in Iran and were last known to be en route from Bandar Abbas to a port in the United Arab Emirates.

The incident has heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, a critical waterway for global energy supplies. The U.S. Navy has increased its presence in the region, with additional destroyers and support vessels deploying to the area. Iranian state media has called for retaliatory measures, though no specific actions have been announced.

Diplomatic channels between Washington and Tehran remain open, with both sides exchanging sharp statements. The United Nations has called for restraint and urged all parties to de-escalate the situation. The International Maritime Organization has launched a preliminary inquiry into the safety of commercial shipping in the region.

Questions remain regarding the identification of the vessels and the rules of engagement followed by U.S. forces. The U.S. military has not released video or photographic evidence of the engagement, citing operational security. Iranian officials have offered to share satellite imagery and communication logs from the vessels to support their claim that the ships were civilian.

The incident marks a significant escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions, which have been rising over the past year due to disagreements over nuclear negotiations and regional influence. The U.S. Army, which played a role in the operation, has not issued a separate statement regarding the engagement.

As of Monday evening, the bodies of the five deceased crew members have not been recovered. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the area, though conditions in the Persian Gulf are expected to complicate recovery efforts. The families of the victims have gathered in Tehran, calling for justice and accountability.

The situation remains fluid, with both nations monitoring the waters closely for further developments.