Washington, May 6 (SANA) U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that 10 civilian sailors had been killed in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating attacks targeting commercial shipping in the strategic waterway.
According to Reuters, Rubio told reporters at the White House that sailors in the Gulf were “civilians, isolated, starving and vulnerable,” adding that at least 10 had died as a result of the deteriorating situation, without providing further details.
Rubio said U.S. forces had destroyed seven Iranian fast attack boats in the Strait of Hormuz and would continue targeting drones and vessels considered threats to maritime navigation. He added that Washington was deploying additional military assets to expand its defensive presence and maintain freedom of navigation in the area.
“We only respond if we are attacked first. This is a defensive operation,” Rubio said. “If these ships are not fired upon and we are not fired upon, we will not fire. But if we are attacked, we will respond.”
The Pentagon, meanwhile, said two U.S. commercial vessels carrying military security teams came under attack by missiles, drones and Iranian boats while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
According to NBC News, U.S. forces intercepted the attacks and destroyed several of the boats involved. Capt. Tim Hawkins, director of public affairs at U.S. Central Command, said the deployment of military security teams aboard commercial vessels was intended to provide broader protection for maritime traffic.
Rubio also called on Iran to return to negotiations and accept U.S. conditions, saying advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were continuing diplomatic efforts despite stalled talks. He declined to provide details on the progress of negotiations, saying a final agreement “does not have to be written in one day.”
The U.S. secretary of state said Washington had ended its offensive operations against Iran, repeating earlier remarks made before Congress following the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran that took effect nearly a month ago.
President Donald Trump recently announced what he called “Project Freedom,” an initiative aimed at assisting ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring their safe passage, warning that the United States would respond firmly to any attempt to obstruct the operation.
N.J/ABD
