US Military Accused of Killing Five Civilians in Iran Attacks

US Military Accused of Attacking Iranian Civilian Boats in Strait of Hormuz

A US military operation, dubbed “Project Freedom”, has sparked tensions between Iran and the United States after an Iranian commander claimed that US forces attacked two passenger boats, not vessels belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. The incident occurred while a fragile ceasefire was being maintained between the two countries.

According to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, an unnamed military commander stated that Tehran launched an investigation into the US claim, which found that US forces had attacked two small boats carrying people on their way from Khasab on the coast of Oman to the coast of Iran. The attacks destroyed the boats and killed five civilian passengers.

The US operation has raised concerns about a potential return to war between the two countries. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor for global oil supplies, has been effectively blockaded by Iran since February 28, following US and Israeli attacks on the country. Iran is now insisting on maintaining control over the waterway and collecting transit fees as reparations.

The incident has also led to reports of other attacks on commercial vessels in the region. The United Arab Emirates reported that Iranian forces launched a drone attack on one of its oil tankers, while South Korea’s HMM Namu vessel reported an explosion that caused a fire in its engine room. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that peace talks with the US are “making progress” with Pakistan’s mediation.

The US military has not commented on the incident, but the global shipping firm Maersk confirmed that two US-flagged ships made it through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday with the support of navy guided-missile destroyers.

Source: Al Jazeera