The U.S. denied Iran’s claim of attacking an unmanned vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, while Israel’s strikes in Lebanon killed at least seven people, according to multiple reports. Tensions escalate as both sides exchange military actions in the region.
The U.S. military dismissed Iran’s assertion that it targeted an unmanned American vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the claim a “total lie.” The accusation came after the U.S. announced it had disabled three Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for attacks on its warships. The skirmishes mark a resurgence of hostilities following a brief lull, with both sides intensifying their efforts to inflict military and economic pressure.
US Denies Iran’s Claim of Striking Unmanned Vessel
Iran’s state media reported on Sunday that its forces targeted an uncrewed U.S. military vessel attempting to enter a restricted area in the Strait of Hormuz. However, Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command, rejected the claim, stating it was “a total lie.” The U.S. had previously accused Iran of launching ballistic missiles at its warships, prompting a military response.
US denies Iran hit US ship and other Mideast
The U.S. military took action by disabling three Iranian oil tankers, near Iran’s coast. A statement from CENTCOM emphasized that the U.S. would not hesitate to defend American forces and warned that any attacks on its ships would result in even higher economic costs. This follows a pattern of escalating confrontations in the region, with both sides accusing each other of provocative actions.
The war began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. But since a ceasefire agreement was announced in June, on-and-off fighting has persisted with both sides trying to inflict military and economic pain as negotiations have collapsed. Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said the era of proportionate responses
is over and Iran’s retaliation will be faster, heavier and more painful.
Iran’s Exclusion Zone Plan Sparks Concern
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council head, Mohsen Rezaei, announced plans to establish an “exclusion zone” outside the Strait of Hormuz, targeting vessels it deems a threat. The zone would extend from the U.S. naval blockade into the Persian Gulf, according to Rezaei’s comments to Iranian state broadcasters. This move has raised concerns among regional and international observers about the potential for further conflict.
Rezaei’s comments came a day after the U.S. struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to Tehran launching ballistic missiles at U.S. warships. Experts called the launches a dangerous escalation after Iran’s previous attacks at sea targeted commercial shipping. The new zone should be announced in the coming days and weeks, with Rezaei stating it would begin from the line of the U.S. naval blockade, extend toward the Strait of Hormuz, and from this side continue into the Persian Gulf.
U.S. says claim Iran struck unmanned ship in Strait
A motorboat passes a general cargo ship anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, according to an Associated Press report. This image underscores the strategic significance of the waterway, which is crucial to global oil and natural gas shipments. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that on average, 9 million barrels of oil a day are getting through the strait, which should help to relieve pressure on energy prices. His estimate appeared to exceed average flows over the past 28 days through the strait, according to TankerTrackers.com and other sources.
Israeli Strikes in Lebanon Kill at Least Seven
Israeli strikes killed at least seven people in southern Lebanon and leveled an empty hospital, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said. Strikes on the village of Arabsalim killed two, the ministry said. Two others were killed in Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa, near a strategic hill that Israel said its forces gained control over Thursday. At least 20 others were wounded in the Sunday strikes, the ministry said, among them three children and five women. The strikes also destroyed an empty hospital, the ministry said.
Residents have largely vacated the area because of the war. The Israeli military said its latest strikes came in response to a drone attack launched earlier Sunday by Hezbollah on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. It said Hezbollah had used the hospital as a command center. Since a ceasefire went into effect between Israel and Hezbollah more than two months ago, fighting has subsided in much of Lebanon but low-level skirmishes and Israeli strikes continue.
Iran says it hit a US ship in a
Earlier in the week, a U.S. bombardment killed at least five people, while a school was hit in the war’s opening strikes. The Trump administration appears to have adopted a dual-prong approach to the conflict, responding militarily to attacks on the strait while going after foreign financial institutions that handle Iran’s money. Tehran’s hard-line new senior leaders have signaled a willingness to dig in after weathering decades of sanctions.
Iran has found ways over the years to circumvent sanctions, and now a U.S. blockade of its ports, and get its oil to buyers to help ease growing economic pressures. That relies in part on a shadow fleet transporting its oil. U.S. Central Command did not confirm the claim or respond to requests for comment about the alleged attack on the unmanned vessel.
Yemen’s Government Retakes Key Districts
Yemen’s internationally recognized government said Sunday its forces have recaptured areas of two key provinces from the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels as fighting escalates. This development adds another layer of complexity to the region’s conflicts, with multiple fronts experiencing heightened violence.
The conflict in the region has seen repeated cycles of escalation and de-escalation, with both sides leveraging military and economic strategies to gain advantage. The U.S. has emphasized its commitment to defending its forces, while Iran continues to assert its regional influence through military posturing and diplomatic assertions.
