The Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forced a US tanker to turn back near the Strait of Hormuz after it tried to cross the strategic waterway with its radar system turned off, Anadolu reports.

Citing an informed military source, the Tasnim news agency said IRGC naval forces quickly responded to the ship and fired warning shots at the vessel. her, forcing her to retreat. The agency linked the incident to explosions heard earlier near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, where Iranian media reported air defenses had been activated.

The agency said the incident caused no casualties or property damage. The report comes as a US official confirmed to Anadolu that the US carried out another round of airstrikes in southern Iran, downing four Iranian one-way attack drones that posed a threat near the Strait of Hormuz.

“US forces also struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone,” the official said.

“These actions were measured, purely defensive and aimed at safeguarding of the ceasefire,” the official added.

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February. Tehran retaliated with attacks targeting Israel as well as US allies in the Persian Gulf, along with closing the Strait of Hormuz.

A cease-fire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation and was later extended indefinitely by US President Donald Trump.

Source: prizrenpost