The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced a new wave of retaliatory operations, targeting two US naval vessels, eight oil tankers, and 10 additional ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran continues to assert its dominance over the strategic waterway amid escalating hostilities with Washington.
In a dawn statement on Wednesday, the IRGC confirmed the attacks were carried out in response to the US military’s assault on five Iranian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf region.
“The heroic IRGC Navy, in response to the aggression and hostility of the terrorist US military in its attack on five Iranian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, targeted two US vessels and eight oil tankers in the area, inflicting heavy damage on them,” the statement read.
The IRGC added that 10 ships had also been targeted after attempting to pass through a prohibited and unsafe area of the Strait of Hormuz, operating with the “provocation and support” of the United States.
“The Strait of Hormuz remains firmly under the surveillance and management of the capable and valiant IRGC Navy,” the statement concluded, affirming that the Corps continues to exercise full control over the waterway and safeguard the trust of the Iranian people.
Escalation Follows Strike on Jordan Airbase
The latest maritime operation comes hours after the IRGC’s Aerospace Force launched a massive missile barrage against the US’ al-Azraq Airbase in Jordan. That strike, which employed both solid- and liquid-fueled ballistic missiles, targeted maintenance hangars, aircraft preparation facilities, and shelters housing F-35, F-16, and F-15 warplanes, inflicting what the Corps described as “heavy damage on the hostile forces.”
The Strait of Hormuz has increasingly become a key arena in the US war on Iran, prompting Tehran to assert greater control over maritime activity in and around the strategic chokepoint. Recent military exchanges have included US strikes on Iranian oil tankers and Iranian missile attacks targeting US naval forces.
Advanced US Underwater Vehicle Captured
In a separate development on Tuesday, the IRGC Navy announced the successful interception and capture of a highly advanced, unmanned American underwater vehicle at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz. According to the IRGC, the unmanned submersible incorporates some of the world’s most advanced underwater technology and was delivered to the US military in 2025.
The capture marks the latest in a long history of Iranian forces intercepting and seizing advanced Western military technology. Over the past decade, Iranian forces have successfully downed or captured numerous high-value US assets, including the RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drone, MQ-9 Reaper drones, and various underwater gliders and surface vessels in the Persian Gulf.
Reverse-engineering these captured technologies has historically played a significant role in accelerating Iran’s domestic drone and unmanned naval programs.
Source: Iranian media (edite dby Al-Manar)