IRGC Claims Missile Strikes On US Warships And Attack On Drone Boat In Hormuz

A Press TV Telegram post timed at 16:10 UTC on 6 September said the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps had shot down a US military surveillance balloon over Erbil in northern Iraq as part of efforts to dismantle Washington's spying capabilities in the region.

Separate posts on the IRNA and Press TV Telegram channels timed on 6 September, attributed to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, claimed attacks on American naval assets. According to those posts, the IRGC Navy claimed an attack on a US military unmanned surface vessel, while the IRGC Aerospace Force claimed ballistic missile fire at a US aircraft carrier and a destroyer.

Balloon description over Erbil

A Clash Report Telegram post timed at 10:23 UTC on 6 September said the IRGC says its Aerospace Force destroyed a U.S. military surveillance balloon over Erbil in northern Iraq.

According to the IRGC as quoted in that Clash Report post, the balloon was about 35 meters long, could carry up to 500 kg of equipment, and was capable of operating as a stationary airborne surveillance platform for weeks. The same attributed description said the system could carry electronic intelligence, communications relay, and electronic warfare equipment.

What the unmanned vessel posts claim

A post on the IRNA Telegram channel timed at 06:04 UTC on 6 September said the Naval Forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps had attacked a US military unmanned surface vessel that, according to the statement, was attempting to enter what it called the protected area of the Strait of Hormuz.

The same IRNA post quoted the statement as saying the force is closely monitoring any enemy move and will confront it decisively, that the Strait of Hormuz is under the management of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and that any move by the enemy would be met with a firm response. It also quoted the statement as saying the aggressor United States should know that it has no choice but to leave the region and stop its mischief.

A Press TV Telegram post timed at 06:26 UTC on 6 September said the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps says it has attacked a Remotely Operated Vessel belonging to the US military in Iran's southern coast. A Press TV Telegram post timed at 02:15 UTC on 6 September said the IRGC had attacked a USV belonging to the US military while it was attempting to enter the protected zone of the Strait of Hormuz, and quoted warnings that enemy moves were under watch and would be decisively targeted.

A post by AMK Mapping timed at 02:34 UTC on 6 September said the naval forces of the IRGC attacked a U.S. drone-boat that was attempting to enter the protected area of the Strait of Hormuz. A post by Intel Slava timed at 02:25 UTC on 6 September said the IRGC Navy announced that it destroyed a U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessel attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

The claimed missile fire at a carrier and destroyer

An IRNA post timed at 05:57 UTC on 6 September said the Aerospace Force had targeted a US aircraft carrier and a destroyer with several ballistic missiles during an ongoing maritime confrontation. That post quoted the attributed statement as saying the two American warships had been involved in disrupting Iranian shipping and participating in a naval blockade.

That IRNA post quoted the attributed statement as saying both vessels suffered damage and subsequently withdrew from the area, fearing further attacks. It quoted the statement as saying the United States had been forced to officially acknowledge that two of its naval vessels had come under attack.

A Press TV post timed at 03:33 UTC on 6 September said the IRGC Aerospace Force had launched several ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and an American destroyer participating in Washington's naval blockade, forcing the vessels to flee. A Press TV post timed at 22:50 UTC on 5 September said after sustaining damage and fearing further attacks, the two warships were forced to flee the conflict zone.

A Clash Report post timed at 23:12 UTC on 5 September said Iran's IRGC says it launched ballistic missiles at a U.S. aircraft carrier and destroyer, claiming the warships were involved in actions against Iranian vessels, and that the IRGC said the ships were damaged and withdrew from the area.

Assessment: IRGC claims alongside a CENTCOM account

A Hindustan Times report dated 6 September relayed the IRGC claim that several ballistic missiles were fired at a US aircraft carrier and destroyer, and quoted the attributed IRGC language about harassing Iranian ships and participating in a naval blockade. The same report quoted the IRGC claim that both warships were forced to leave the conflict area after sustaining damage and fearing another attack.

Monexus analysis: the same Hindustan Times report also relays a US account attributed to US Central Command, presenting competing descriptions of the same naval encounter. According to that report, CENTCOM said a US aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks, and no American personnel were harmed.

The same Hindustan Times report, citing CENTCOM, said US forces subsequently permanently disabled the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask on 5 September, and completely destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo, also known as Noxen, in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was directed to abandon the vessel.

Press TV posts timed at 21:30 UTC on 5 September and 21:45 UTC on 5 September relayed an attributed IRGC Navy claim of striking three United States-linked vessels and three trespassing oil tankers in retaliation for earlier American attacks on Iranian tankers. The Hindustan Times report quoted an IRGC Navy statement carried by IRIB as saying three oil tankers on an unauthorised route through the Strait of Hormuz and three vessels affiliated with the US in other areas were targeted.

Source records

The sources below were retrieved for this article. Reposts and mirrors may share the same reporting.

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