The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice and said it fired warning shots at a vessel attempting an unauthorized route. A senior US official confirmed that the IRGC fired a missile at a merchant ship transiting the strait, striking it. No details on the vessel's identity, nationality, or casualties have been reported.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced early Sunday that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, citing the end of American intervention in the region as a condition for reopening. The IRGC stated that it fired warning shots at a vessel attempting to transit through an unauthorized route. This announcement comes after The Zioneer reported at 01:08 Jerusalem that a senior US official confirmed the IRGC had struck a merchant ship with a missile in the strait, and earlier unverified reports of a tanker being fired upon.
The reports began at 01:08 Jerusalem with an initial, unconfirmed report of a missile launch toward a ship. Within minutes, The Zioneer added that the fire reportedly originated from the port city of Sirik, and then a senior US official confirmed to Barak Ravid (N12) that the IRGC fired a missile at a merchant ship, striking it. The corroboration moved from a single unverified source to an on-record American confirmation.
The closure formalizes a threat that has been escalating for weeks. As The Zioneer reported on July 11, the IRGC officially declared a maritime blockade following a US ultimatum. Previous threats and incidents include a reported attack on a vessel July 7 (Channel 14) and the IRGC Navy's announcement on July 7 that it bombed a vessel and ordered all ships to turn back. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint, and the US has warned against any disruption.
No details on the identity, nationality, damage, or casualties of the vessel struck have been reported. The IRGC's claim of warning shots and the reported missile strike may refer to the same incident or different vessels; this remains unclear.
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