U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Thursday issued a detailed rebuttal of three Iranian claims, stating that the IRGC's assertions that Hormuz shipping lanes are dangerous, that three F-35s were destroyed, and that the tanker M/T Nora breached the blockade are false. CENTCOM said all missiles and drones were intercepted and that over 20 warships continue to enforce the blockade.
Thursday evening, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a detailed rebuttal of three specific Iranian claims, directly addressing the IRGC's assertions that Hormuz shipping lanes are dangerous, that three F-35s were destroyed, and that the tanker M/T Nora breached the naval blockade. CENTCOM stated that the immediate danger to shipping comes from the IRGC's own threats, that no American aircraft were hit, and that the vessel did not breach the 'impenetrable' blockade. The command reiterated that over 20 warships, hundreds of aircraft, and thousands of personnel continue to enforce it.
This new statement follows an earlier CENTCOM denial at 18:37 Jerusalem time Thursday, which rejected the IRGC's claims of F-35 losses and the tanker's breach. The IRGC had first made its claim of destroying three F-35s at 17:03 Jerusalem. The thread of this story began early Thursday morning with unverified reports of a US HIMARS strike on Iran's Kish Island (Thu 03:06 Jerusalem), followed by Iranian state media reports of strikes on nine locations across southern Iran. The IRGC's claims of F-35 destruction and tanker breach emerged later in the afternoon. The new CENTCOM rebuttal is the most comprehensive official response to date, adding the specific denial about the safety of Hormuz shipping lanes.
As The Zioneer has reported on multiple occasions, the IRGC has a pattern of issuing claims of successful strikes on US assets, many of which have been dismissed by Washington as propaganda. The Strait of Hormuz remains a central flashpoint, with the IRGC threatening commercial shipping and the US enforcing a naval blockade. CENTCOM has consistently denied Iranian claims of damage to American forces.
The Iranian claims remain unverified by independent sources. CENTCOM's denials are official but have not been corroborated by third-party evidence. The status of the shipping lanes and the specific tanker M/T Nora remains subject to the ongoing blockade enforcement.
9 developments
- DevelopingCENTCOM: Strait of Hormuz is international waterway, 1,000 vessels transited since May
- DevelopingCENTCOM says Iran does not control Strait of Hormuz; shipping continues as normal
- StrongCENTCOM released footage of engagement with Iranian forces in Strait of Hormuz
- ConfirmedCENTCOM intercepts Iranian suicide drones targeting commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz
Source and signal
- Open-source intake