IRGC Strikes US Unmanned Vessel in Strait of Hormuz, Two Ships Hit

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked a US unmanned vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, September 11, according to a statement from the IRGC cited by Al Jazeera. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the Royal Navy maritime security body that monitors commercial shipping in the region, reported that projectiles struck two ships in waters off Oman.

What We Know

The IRGC said it carried out an attack on a US unmanned vessel operating in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera’s live coverage. The regime did not immediately specify the type of unmanned system targeted or the munitions used.

UKMTO, which issues real-time maritime security advisories to commercial shipping, confirmed that projectiles hit two vessels off the coast of Oman. UKMTO’s incident reports are considered a primary source by international maritime insurers and naval commands operating in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz is the single chokepoint through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s seaborne oil supply transits each day. Any confirmed Iranian military action in that corridor carries immediate implications for energy markets and US Central Command (CENTCOM) force posture in the Gulf.

What We Don’t Know

The extent of damage to either the US unmanned vessel or the two ships reported by UKMTO has not been confirmed as of this report. No US military statement has been issued. It is not yet clear whether the two vessels UKMTO identified were struck in the same operation as the IRGC’s announced attack or in a separate incident. The commercial or military status of those ships is also unconfirmed. This is a developing situation.

Context

The Strait of Hormuz, roughly 21 miles wide at its narrowest navigable point, sits between Iran’s southern coast and Oman. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait during periods of military tension with the United States, but a confirmed kinetic attack on a US asset in Hormuz marks a significant escalation threshold. Any disruption to tanker traffic through the strait historically triggers sharp moves in crude oil futures.

The attack comes on the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, a symbolically charged date that US officials have flagged as a potential period of elevated threat activity. CENTCOM has maintained an elevated naval presence in the Gulf throughout 2026.

What to Watch

1. A US military or Pentagon statement confirming the attack on the unmanned vessel and characterizing the US response.
2. Crude oil futures at the open of the next trading session, particularly Brent and WTI front-month contracts, for any market reaction to the Hormuz incident.
3. Additional UKMTO advisories or reports of further maritime incidents in the Gulf of Oman and the strait.