US destroys dhow as Hormuz shipping tensions rise
A US official says the vessel was being used by Iranian Revolutionary Guard spotters, while Iran disputes how a cargo ship sank.
Follow-up to: Singapore-registered ship sinks after strike in Hormuz Wednesday, 14 October 2026, 18:33
US forces confronted and destroyed a dhow they believed was being used by Iranian Revolutionary Guard spotters to identify targets in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a US military official cited by Reuters. The disclosure came as Iran said a cargo ship had sunk after hitting a naval mine, while Singapore’s maritime authority said its GFS PRIDE had been struck by an unknown projectile and sunk.
The US official said the dhow’s occupants were ordered to abandon the vessel before it was destroyed. No casualties were reported. The account was not accompanied by publicly released evidence, and the US military has not publicly identified the vessel or specified when the action took place beyond saying it happened last week.
The development follows The Vector’s earlier report that a Singapore-registered container ship had sunk after being struck in the Strait of Hormuz, while a second Singapore-registered vessel was damaged. Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority has now identified the ships as GFS PRIDE and GFS GISELLE, and said all crew members were safe.
The MPA said GFS PRIDE was damaged and caught fire before sinking. Its 21 crew members were evacuated and no injuries were reported. GFS GISELLE sustained hull damage but reached a safe anchorage under its own power; all 22 crew members were reported safe.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said separately that a cargo ship had sunk after striking a naval mine while making what it described as an unauthorised passage. The statement did not identify the ship. The timing suggests it may have been referring to GFS PRIDE, but Singapore’s maritime authority has described the cause as an unknown projectile rather than a mine.
That difference matters because it leaves responsibility for the sinking unresolved. The Guardian reported that UK Maritime Trade Operations had recorded at least five incidents involving commercial shipping around the strait in the previous 48 hours. The reports include attacks involving tankers and other merchant vessels, but public information does not establish that every incident had the same perpetrator or method.
Reuters reported that the US assessment of the dhow reflects a change in Iranian tactics after American strikes damaged much of Iran’s radar capability. The US official said the Revolutionary Guard had begun using unarmed observers in small boats to identify possible targets, including US naval vessels. Iran has not publicly accepted that account.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for energy and other commercial shipping, making each new incident relevant well beyond the immediate conflict. For British companies, the practical questions are whether insurers will raise war-risk premiums, whether ships will take longer alternative routes and whether governments will increase naval escorts. The latest reports provide evidence of a worsening security environment, but not a settled account of who caused each attack.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Two Singapore-registered vessels were reported struck in the Strait of Hormuz on 13 and 14 October.
- One vessel sank and the other reached safety; no injuries were reported.
- Iran said a cargo ship sank after hitting a naval mine.
- A US official said American forces destroyed a dhow allegedly used by Iranian spotters.
Left
Arguments The priority should be de-escalation, civilian protection and a diplomatic settlement rather than expanding unilateral military action.
Values International law, human life and restraint in the use of force.
Consequences Further US action could widen the conflict, increase risks to merchant crews and push up energy and insurance costs.
Centre
Arguments Commercial shipping needs protection, but governments should publish evidence, work through international maritime mechanisms and keep diplomatic channels open.
Values Rule-based security, accountability and proportionality.
Consequences Escorts and rerouting may be necessary in the short term, but an unclear chain of attribution could make escalation harder to control.
Right
Arguments Attacks on merchant shipping and targeting support networks require a credible and forceful deterrent response.
Values Freedom of navigation, national security and the protection of trade.
Consequences Failure to respond could encourage more attacks, although military action carries a serious risk of direct confrontation with Iran.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Priya Shah — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article separates confirmed maritime-authority information from attributed US and Iranian claims. The cause of the sinking and responsibility for the attacks are explicitly left unresolved.
- confirmed US forces confronted and destroyed a dhow allegedly used by Iranian spotters, with no casualties reported. — Reported by Reuters through an unnamed US military official. source
- confirmed GFS PRIDE sank after being struck, with all 21 crew members evacuated and no injuries reported. — Stated by Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority. source
- confirmed GFS GISELLE was damaged but reached a safe anchorage, with all 22 crew members safe. — Stated by Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority. source
- confirmed Iran said a cargo ship sank after striking a naval mine. — Reported by the Associated Press from an IRGC Navy statement. source
- confirmed UK Maritime Trade Operations recorded at least five incidents around the strait in the previous 48 hours. — Reported by The Guardian. source
Editor's note
The sinking of GFS PRIDE, the damage to GFS GISELLE and the crew figures are confirmed by Singapore’s maritime authority. The dhow operation and Iran’s mine account are attributed claims; responsibility for the ship incidents remains unresolved.Sources
- Iran shifting tactics to step up attacks on shipping before US vote, officials say — Reuters, republished by Internazionale
- Iran says a ship sank after striking a mine in Strait of Hormuz — Associated Press
- Two Singapore-Registered Vessels Struck in Strait of Hormuz — Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
- Two container ships sink near Strait of Hormuz amid surge in Iranian attacks — The Guardian
The story so far
- Wednesday, 14 October 2026, 18:33 Singapore-registered ship sinks after strike in Hormuz
- Wednesday, 14 October 2026, 23:32 US destroys dhow as Hormuz shipping tensions rise (this article)
More on this in other media
- The Independent — „strait of hormuz”
- BBC News — „strait of hormuz”
- The Guardian — „strait of hormuz”