Tehran has deployed a network of hundreds of small high-speed vessels, dubbed a “mosquito fleet,” to exert control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Experts describe this tactic as an effective deterrent against merchant shipping, with Iranian boats hidden in bays, caves, tunnels, and along the southern coastline.
The vessels, part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy, are typically lightly armed with short-range missiles. They operate in coordinated groups to intimidate slower ships, capable of attacking crews, damaging cargo, or even capturing vessels. Unlike traditional naval forces, these boats can be easily replaced due to their low cost and high maneuverability.
While the fleet lacks the firepower to seriously damage American warships or modern tankers, its combination with IRGC missile and unmanned systems creates a persistent threat that deters shipping through the strait. The strategy is designed not to destroy ships but to intimidate merchant vessels.
On May 6, US President Donald Trump announced that three American destroyers had passed through the Strait of Hormuz, claiming Iranian small boats were destroyed during a collision. Iran’s state television reported that its forces fired missiles at a US ship in response to an attack on an Iranian oil tanker by American forces. The following day, CENTCOM confirmed that the US Navy was blocking the passage of 70 Iranian tankers—vessels carrying over 166 million barrels of crude oil valued at more than $13 billion.
