UPDATED 9:26 PM EDT -- Explosions in Sirik, Iran and in Strait of Hormuz; Reports of "Naval Battle"
Reports are coming in as of 5:49 PM EDT Saturday evening, of several large explosions having been heard in Sirik, southern Iran, and in the Strait of Hormuz.
Local sources are reporting “a serious naval conflict” tonight, with at least one vessel being confirmed hit.
IRGC-N speedboats are also reported to be operating.
It has only been several HOURS since US President Trump publicly told media he "rejects" Iran's latest offer to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the US "controls it."
Now, it appears Iran is escalating to prove otherwise.
The Strait of Hormuz: It’s open it’s closed it’s open it’s closed rinse and repeat indefinitely . . .
More as I get it.
UPDATE 5:57 PM EDT -- Now receiving reports saying (Verbatim) "Some kind of clusterfuck is happening near Qeshm island, blasts coming from the sea, too many blasts. Hormozgan Province, Iran
UPDATE 6:02 PM EDT -- Now being told "Several IRGC anti-ship missile launches have been reported towards the Strait of Hormuz in the past hour."
UPDATE 6:17 PM EDT -- Iran has reportedly started launching a major wave of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.
at least 4 unconfirmed impacts from Iranian missiles and drones against ships, including a drone strike on a vessel just moments ago.
Initial reports indicate an Iranian cruise missile also successfully struck a target in the Strait, while multiple explosions were reported from the coast of Sirik and by sailors aboard ships in the Persian Gulf.
Witnesses say the sound of missiles hitting ships was clearly audible, with IRGC fast attack craft now reportedly maneuvering around Larak Island.
The Strait of Hormuz is now seeing sustained Iranian missile, drone and naval activity tonight, with multiple ships reportedly coming under attack.
UPDATE 7:40 PM EDT -- In the past 90 minutes at least 6 AShM were launched by the IRGC towards the sea.
UPDATE 8:16 PM EDT -- Iran is reportedly laying naval mines in Hormuz, aimed at the route ships use to get around its rules.
Unconfirmed reports say at least some of the missiles fired into the strait tonight carried mines, apparently dropped into the corridor through Omani waters that ships have been using to avoid Iranian clearance.
Nobody yet knows how many went in or whether they deployed properly.
MORE:
Iran's IRGC has substantially escalated its targeting of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz over the past hours, launching anti-ship cruise missiles and drones while fast-attack boats engage tankers with guided rockets, machine guns and small arms.
At least 3 vessels have been struck and a 4th has turned around, with a source putting the number struck tonight at up to 6.
UPDATE 9:26 PM EDT -- IRGC Navy has launched more that 10 anti-ship cruise missiles tonight. The reason? Allegedly there’s a large US Navy escort attempting to get an oil shipment through the Strait of Hormuz.
Whereas the Iranians clearly were looking the other way as oil was moved out the last few weeks, that “deal” is over. And all because Trump refused to deal once more at the UN.
Up next: Trump will escalate. His options are limited. So, he either does another short term air campaign against Iran that accomplishes nothing strategically, or he risks something else entirely: nuclear escalation (which is certainly on the table).
