On October 6, 2023, the United States Navy destroyed an Iranian-related dhaw in the Sea of Oman. This action followed claims that Iran was using this vessel as a waypoint for identifying and targeting U.S. Navy ships.
Details of the Dhaw's Destruction
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), this dhaw was observing U.S. Navy ships in the Gulf of Oman. Two Apache helicopters from the U.S. Navy struck the vessel with missiles, setting it ablaze. Before the ship's destruction, its crew members were rescued by naval forces, and Central Command is working to return them to their home country.
Read more: Al Jazeera: The U.S. War Against Iran Has Impacted Middle East Energy Supply
The Role of Dhaws in Identification and Targeting
An American military official confirmed that Iran uses dhaws and small boats as waypoints to facilitate targeting at sea. In this region, there are many dhaws and small vessels used for trade, smuggling, and fishing from the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Sea of Oman. This allows members associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran to easily hide among civilian traffic.
However, the destruction of this dhaw does not seem to reduce Iran's speed of attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. On Sunday, six commercial vessels were attacked, and four more were targeted on Tuesday, including a small container ship that sank in the strait. Separately, a cargo ship that was attacked on September 23 sank on Tuesday due to flooding.
These developments indicate the continuation of Iran's military activities in the region's waters and the United States' efforts to counter these threats. Given the existing tensions, this action by the U.S. Navy may represent new strategies to address threats in maritime domains.
Read more: Oman's Foreign Minister Linked Agreement with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz to U.S. Negotiations · Iranian Oil Reached a Record of $105 and U.S. Bases in the Region Were Left Unused
