US attacks two Iranian boats after drone seizure attempt

US naval forces attacked two Iranian small boats on Monday night after the vessels tried to seize a drone, officials said, raising regional tensions.

Officials said the exchanges occurred off Kargan port city and near Larak Island in Iran’s Hormozgan province, in waters that form a corridor for commercial oil shipments. The timing and exact sequence of events were described by officials as taking place late on Monday local time.

Officials said the boats approached a US unmanned surface vessel and that US forces engaged to repel the attempt; officials did not provide independent confirmation of damage or casualties. The incident adds to a pattern of close encounters between naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz region, officials said.

Kargan and Larak incidents

Officials said they were monitoring maritime traffic and coordinating with regional partners. If exchanges escalate, officials warned, commercial navigation could face delays and insurers may reassess risk premiums for ships transiting the corridor.

The main uncertainty is whether Tehran will treat the episodes as isolated maritime interdictions or as a casus belli that requires a diplomatic or military response. Expect officials to release further details and possible briefings by September 17, 2026.