US forces destroyed two Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps tried to seize an American drone, while a separate strike on the tanker El Gaia has left two sailors missing. The twin incidents extend a monthslong confrontation that has pushed daily transits through the chokepoint down to a fraction of normal levels.
US forces destroyed two small Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on September 15, 2026, after Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps attempted to seize an American drone. The incident extends a cycle of provocation and retaliation that began with US strikes on February 28, 2026, turning the waterway into something closer to a conflict zone than a shipping route.
Traffic collapses to a trickle
Daily commercial transits through the strait have fallen to about three vessels as of mid-September, down from roughly 74 before the crisis — a drop to about 4% of pre-crisis levels. The strait normally carries around 20 million barrels of oil a day, roughly 20% of global petroleum consumption.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard also claimed responsibility for downing multiple US MQ-1 drones on September 15, including two in a single day. US Central Command has responded with sustained strikes, destroying five Iranian oil tankers around September 8 in retaliation for missile threats.
A tanker attack, two competing accounts
Two sailors remain missing after the Panama-flagged tanker El Gaia was struck roughly 103 nautical miles northeast of Musandam on or around September 13. Omani naval forces rescued 23 crew members from the vessel, which caught fire in its engine room.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says the tanker strayed into a restricted area and struck naval mines. But US Central Command says an Iranian missile first disabled the vessel before an Iranian drone struck it — two incompatible versions of the same event.
Oil markets absorb the shock
Brent crude has been trading around $101 to $102 a barrel in mid-September, after an earlier spike to $99.46 during previous tanker attacks.
War-risk insurance premiums for vessels crossing the strait have risen approximately 15 times since the escalation began.
Sources: Crypto Briefing, Crypto Briefing
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