Iran Says US Forces Attacked Fishing Boats Near Qeshm Island

Iranian state media reported on Saturday that United States forces attacked two fishing boats near Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf, leaving two fishermen missing and one wounded. The account came from Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, which cited an official in the southern province of Hormozgan. The United States had not confirmed the reported incident.

FAKTA: What we know so far

• What is claimed: Two fishing boats near Qeshm Island were attacked, allegedly by US forces, according to Iranian state media.
• Casualties reported: Two fishermen missing and one wounded, in the IRIB account; a separate Iranian report put the number of wounded at two.
• Where: About 14 nautical miles south of Qeshm Island, in waters near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency.
• When: The reports emerged on Saturday, 31 October; the exact time of the alleged incident was not stated.
• Confirmation status: No immediate confirmation from Washington, and no independent verification of the attack.

What Iranian media reported

According to the IRIB report, the two boats were targeted near Qeshm Island; the fate of the two missing fishermen was unknown. Iranian authorities did not name the missing men, and no further details about their whereabouts were released. The report did not explain why the boats were allegedly targeted or describe how the incident unfolded.

Fars news agency carried a similar account, describing the attacker as an “enemy” drone that struck the two boats south of the island. That version gave the same number of missing fishermen but reported two wounded instead of one. The discrepancy had not been explained.

No response yet from Washington

The United States had not publicly acknowledged any operation against the fishing boats, and no American statement on the alleged incident had appeared by the time the reports circulated. Independent confirmation of the attack was also unavailable, leaving the central claim resting on Iranian official sources alone.

The absence of a US response leaves the most important questions unanswered: whether an attack took place at all, who carried it out, and what happened to the missing fishermen. Further statements from either side could clarify the incident.

A tense waterway

Qeshm Island sits in the Persian Gulf close to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil and goods. Its waters support a busy local fishing trade, and any reported military incident there draws swift regional attention.

The reported incident comes at a sensitive moment for the region. Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday in an effort to keep diplomatic channels open between the United States and Iran, whose relations remain strained over nuclear issues and Gulf security. A confirmed attack on civilian fishermen would add fresh pressure to them.

Until Washington responds or independent evidence emerges, the incident stands as an Iranian allegation, not an established fact. Read more international news on Watan News.