Iranian state media has claimed that civilian boats were targeted during the US military operation in the Strait of Hormuz, however, this claim could not be confirmed by independent sources.
According to reports, Iranian officials say that US forces targeted six small boats, which were allegedly not affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps but were boats carrying civilians.
Al Jazeera has reported that five people were killed in the incident. According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim News Agency, a military official said that the investigation found that two cargo boats were fired on that were heading from Khasab to Iran.
According to Iranian officials, the people on these boats were civilians and they were carrying commercial goods. However, no official statement has been made by US officials in this regard.
Experts say that incidents of this nature in the Strait of Hormuz could further escalate tensions in the region, especially at a time when relations between Iran and the United States are already strained.
