The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has formally rejected claims made by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that the Panama-flagged oil tanker El Gaia collided with naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. According to CENTCOM, the vessel was previously struck by an Iranian missile last month and subsequently hit by an Iranian drone this weekend while anchored in waters off the coast of Oman.
This development occurred amid a broader series of escalations in the region. The Saudi-led coalition reported that 13 civilians were injured during a recent barrage of ballistic missile and drone attacks launched by Houthi forces into Saudi territory.
Diplomatic tensions remain high as US President Donald Trump reiterated that
Is CENTCOM releasing all drone footage yet? We deserve transparency on what actually happened.
What about the humanitarian cost? Civilian injuries in Saudi Arabia are unacceptable.
Does anyone trust Iran’s version of events anymore? Their narrative keeps changing daily.
This escalation is terrifying. One wrong miscalculation and the whole region could ignite.