Before the US launched strikes on targets in southern Iran on May 25, Iranian forces were already escalating. US officials say Iran deployed one-way attack drones near Navy ships, attempted to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz, and ramped up activity at surface-to-air missile sites threatening aircraft in the region.
The response was swift. US Central Command confirmed that strikes targeted missile launch facilities and boats involved in mine-laying operations, framing the actions as protective measures tied to the naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. For crypto markets, the fallout was immediate: Bitcoin dipped below $77,000 on May 26 as traders scrambled to price in yet another round of Middle Eastern instability.
What happened on the water
Speedboats attempted to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes through that narrow channel, making any disruption there a global economic event, not just a regional skirmish.
Simultaneously, Iran launched one-way attack drones toward US Navy vessels operating in the area. Surface-to-air missile sites also showed increased readiness, posing a direct threat to US and allied aircraft.
