Baghdad: Two Iranian boats destroyed while attempting to seize a naval drone in Hormuz US forces destroyed two Iranian boats after they attempted to seize a US Navy drone patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, in the latest confrontation between Washington and Tehran in the strategic waterway, according to Axios.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, US officials said the boats were operating on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and that US forces intercepted them before they could take control of the drone, in an incident reflecting escalating tensions over maritime security operations in the strait.

Axios quoted informed officials as saying the incident occurred on Monday when the two boats approached the US drone and attempted to seize it, prompting US forces to intervene and destroy the boats.

US Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed the strike, noting that US forces take measures to protect their assets and prevent Iranian forces from seizing them.

The confrontation comes as the US has increased its naval presence in the region, amid ongoing concerns about the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping lanes.

According to Axios, US forces are attempting to protect commercial shipping in the strait, though the movement of oil tankers and other commercial vessels remains significantly lower than pre-war levels.

Shipping data showed that only four cargo ships transited the strait on Monday, compared to 10 the previous day, while the pre-war average was around 125 ships per day, indicating the extent of the impact the military confrontations have had on maritime traffic.