Admiral Brad Cooper, the leader of the US Central Command, declared on Monday evening that US forces had eliminated six small Iranian vessels that he described as “threatening commercial shipping.”
“Cooper informed reporters that as the US initiated its operation to secure the Strait of Hormuz”, US forces had also intercepted cruise missiles and drones launched by Iran.
He emphasized that US forces were engaged in “purely defensive operations” and noted that no US ships or vessels had been targeted by Iranian fire.
The CENTCOM commander further stated that Iranian forces had been “strongly advised” to avoid US military assets and equipment during the operation.
Cooper reiterated that the US blockade on Iran, which restricts ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports, remains effective and has “exceeded expectations.”
In contrast, the Iranian state-run news agency, referencing an Islamic Republic “military source,” claimed that “the US assertion that several Iranian warships were sunk is a fabrication.”
Simultaneously, the official Oman News Agency, citing a security source, reported that a residential building accommodating employees of a company in the “Tibat” area of Bakha province was struck by an attack.
According to the report, two foreign nationals sustained injuries, four vehicles were damaged, and the windows of a nearby residential building were also shattered.
