Trump said 'I don't want to say' and smirked when asked if the U.S. did it; the Qeshm governor blamed a 'terrorist enemy' without naming the U.S.
An unidentified projectile hit an Iranian container ship near Hengam Island in the Strait of Hormuz early Sunday, Sept. 13, killing one crew member and wounding four, Iranian state media reported. UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed that a projectile hit a vessel, causing a severe fire, and that local authorities evacuated those aboard, according to the Washington Examiner. Hengam lies 1.2 miles south of Qeshm Island, The Hill reported; Qeshm is 14 miles from the port city of Bandar Abbas, according to PBS NewsHour.
Catch up
- Feb. 28 — U.S. and Israel began striking Iran; the war spread to Gulf states and shut Hormuz to normal traffic.
- Aug. 18–20 — As a 60-day talks window expired, Trump threatened Oman and sanctions on Iran's helpers; only 10 to 12 ships a day crossed.
- Aug. 29 — U.S. had launched no large strike in nearly a month; 18 Americans were dead and 750-plus wounded.
- Aug. 31–Sept. 1 — U.S. destroyed two mine-laying launchers on Larak, killing two; Iran fired eight missiles at Jordan, all intercepted; Brent passed $90.
- Sept. 1–3 — U.S. hit about 100 coastal targets; Iran struck U.S. bases in four countries and counted 18 dead including five at a wedding.
- Sept. 5–6 — After Iran fired at two warships hurting no one, U.S. destroyed three tankers under a three-for-two rule.
- Sept. 7 — Iran claimed it hit an unmanned U.S. vessel; CENTCOM called it a lie and said its tanker strikes killed no one.
- Sept. 8 — Iran said it would declare a restricted zone near Hormuz and doubled gasoline prices for its heaviest 15%.
- Sept. 9 — Iran said it seized a U.S. sea drone in Hormuz; CENTCOM said the drone malfunctioned a day earlier.
19 earlier issues
- Trump Threatens to Bomb Iranian Bridges and Power Plants for Every Ship Hit in Strait of Hormuz
- Iran fires multiple ballistic missiles at U.S. base in Jordan; all are intercepted
- Iran denies Trump’s claim that new U.S. talks would start Monday
- Cargo ship is struck in the Strait of Hormuz
- Vance says the Iran talks are moving, then calls the war only half over
- Iran won't reopen Hormuz until the US unfreezes its assets and lifts the blockade
- Trump threatens to bomb Oman, the U.S. ally brokering the deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
- Trump declares an "economic D-Day" on Iran as Hormuz traffic runs 85% below normal
- UpdateU.S. goes nearly a month without large Iran strikes as Trump shifts back to sanctions; Hormuz remains closed
- U.S. destroys two Iranian rocket launchers loaded to mine the Strait of Hormuz; Iran fires eight missiles at bases in Jordan, all intercepted
- UpdateU.S. bombs two Iranian rocket sites near the Strait of Hormuz; Iran fires eight missiles at Jordan
- UpdateU.S. forces struck IRGC air-defense, radar, maritime and mine-laying sites on Iran's southern coast starting at noon on Sept. 1
- UpdateU.S. hits about 100 Iranian targets; Iran fires back at American bases in four countries, and a cruise missile kills 4 at a wedding
- Reuters weapons experts say a US munition made a direct hit on the Iranian wedding house that killed 5
- US destroys or disables 3 Iranian oil tankers after Iran fired ballistic missiles at a US carrier and destroyer
- UpdateIran says it hit an unmanned US vessel a day after the tanker strikes; Central Command calls the claim "a total lie"
- UpdateIran says it will declare a restricted zone near the Strait of Hormuz and will strike threats "even before" they are carried out
- Iran says it seized a US sea drone in Hormuz; CENTCOM says it malfunctioned a day earlier
- UpdateIran fires 20 missiles at a US base in Jordan; Jordan says it intercepted 18
Why no claim of responsibility stands out
- U.S. Central Command named hulls within a day for its Sept. 5 strikes on Downy, Stark 1 and Kylo; it has issued no release for this strike.
- UKMTO's 'unknown projectile' wording is standard formula — it used near-identical language for an Aug. 18 incident — and Sunday's alert assigned no responsibility.