In brief
On Nov. 5, 2026, the IRGC said two supertankers and a tugboat burned in the Strait of Hormuz after striking naval mines on an unauthorized route. Iranian forces also seized two unmanned drones and blamed the U.S. for drawing vessels into the mined path. The incident follows Tehran’s stricter control of the strait since Feb. 28, 2026, after joint Israel‑U.S. strikes on Iranian territory.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday that three vessels, including two supertankers, caught fire overnight in the Strait of Hormuz while sailing a route it called "illegal and unauthorized." The statement said one oil tanker entered the mined path and set ablaze after striking naval mines, while a second tanker was stopped near the waterway after catching fire during its exit. A tugboat that had come to aid the second tanker also caught fire, the IRGC reported.
In addition to the fires, IRGC reporters said that a unit from its naval electronic‑warfare squad had seized two low‑cost unmanned combat drones—labeling them "invading"—and landed them unharmed. The armed forces said they had countered "very heavy" U.S. accusations and blamed Washington for creating financial burdens on American taxpayers by encouraging ships to use the mined route.
The IRGC has tightened control of the strait since February 28, 2026, after joint Israeli and U.S. air strikes on Iranian territory, and has barred vessels linked to Israel or the United States from safe passage through the waterway. The latest incident comes as Tehran continues to call for an international response to what it sees as U.S. involvement in the shipping lanes.
