US, Iran exchange fire in Hormuz

The U.S. military said it “blew up” six small Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, May 4.

The actions were in response to Iranian attacks on U.S. Navy ships and commercial ships “protected” by the U.S., officials said.

Iranian media disputed the U.S. claims that it sank Iranian boats.

U.S. Central Command Chief Admiral Bradley Cooper also said the U.S. had cleared a “one way” path in the Strait to allow commercial ships that had been there to exit. He did not say how many ships exited through this path.

Iran countered that any ships that violate Iran’s measures in the Strait of will “stopped with force”.

In statement spokesman of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gen. Hossein Mohebi said violating vessels face “serious risks”.

He urged all shipping lines and insurance companies to follow the Guard’s measures, adding that the current status of the Strait is unchanged.

Iranian media also reported that Iran stopped “U.S.-Zionist” destroyers from entering the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile UAE officials said Iran launched a drone attack that caused a fire in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone.

The zone is the largest area for storing oil in the Emirates.

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