U.S. Forces Destroy Iranian-Linked Dhow Accused of Targeting Navy Ships

U.S. forces destroyed an Iranian-affiliated dhow in the Gulf of Oman on October 6 after determining that the vessel was conducting surveillance and helping target American warships, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday.

According to CENTCOM, the dhow’s crew was safely removed before the vessel was destroyed. Efforts to repatriate the crew are ongoing.

The military did not identify the dhow, disclose how it was destroyed or provide details about the alleged surveillance activities.

“On Oct. 6, U.S. forces destroyed an Iranian-affiliated dhow conducting surveillance and targeting U.S. Navy ships in the Gulf of Oman,” CENTCOM said in its latest statement.

The announcement comes amid reports that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has increasingly turned to small boats to identify potential targets following damage to its coastal surveillance infrastructure.

According to Reuters reporting Wednesday, Iranian forces have been using unarmed spotters aboard small vessels to help identify commercial ships for attacks as Tehran steps up efforts to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The disclosure also follows a separate U.S. military strike on October 10 against the Panama-flagged cargo vessel Ocean Molica, also known as Arika Sun, in the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM said a U.S. fighter jet disabled the vessel’s propulsion after its crew ignored repeated warnings while attempting to violate the American naval blockade against Iran.

The October 10 operation brought the number of commercial vessels disabled during the renewed blockade to four, according to CENTCOM. The command also reported that 135 ships had been turned around and 10 tankers linked to the IRGC had been destroyed since enforcement resumed July 14.

The latest disclosure comes as attacks on merchant shipping have accelerated across the region. Two cargo ships, the Singapore-flagged containership GFS Pride and the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao, were confirmed sunk near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday following separate projectile attacks.

In its statement, CENTCOM accused the IRGC of continuing to indiscriminately target civilian mariners and U.S. Navy warships throughout the seven-month conflict.

The destruction of the dhow adds to a growing series of U.S. military actions against vessels in the Gulf of Oman, where American forces are enforcing the blockade while Iranian attacks continue to threaten commercial shipping through the nearby Strait of Hormuz.