Iranian media report exchange of fire with ‘enemy units’ near island in Strait of Hormuz
A boat sails past a tanker anchored on the Strait of Hormuz off the coast Qeshm island, Iran, April 18, 2026.
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AP Photo/Asghar Besharati, File
23:13
Iran said it launched missiles at “enemy” forces in the Strait of Hormuz after a claimed US attack on an oil tanker, and reported shooting down several drones.
Iranian military fired missiles at “enemy units” in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday night, after what it described as an attack on an Iranian tanker, Tehran state-run media said.
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“Following the attack by the US military on an Iranian tanker, the enemy units in the Strait of Hormuz came under Iranian missile fire and were forced to flee after suffering damage,” Iranian state-run broadcaster IRIB reported, citing an unnamed military officer.
Explosions were initially reported on Qeshm Island and the city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, both near the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency said Tehran’s units exchanged fire with the enemy attacking the Bahman pier on Qeshm.
State-run Mizan agency said the explosions heard on the island were the result of air defences intercepting what Iranian media described as “hostile” drones.
According to Iranian media, two drones were also shot down above Bandar Abbas. Air defences were also activated above Tehran to “counter hostile targets,” according to reports.
No more details were reported and there was no immediate confirmation from the US. Euronews could not independently verify these claims.
Qeshm is the largest Iranian island in the Persian Gulf, home to about 150,000 people and housing a water desalination plant.
