16 Iranian cargo ships burnt to cinders in U.S.-Israeli air attack

The ongoing regional conflict has reached a new level of maritime destruction as a joint U.S.-Israeli air raid reportedly incinerated nearly 20 commercial vessels at a southern Iranian port on Friday, March 20, 2026.

In a dramatic escalation of Operation Epic Fury, local officials in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province reported that at least 16 cargo vessels were completely destroyed following a coordinated U.S.-Israeli air strike on Friday morning. The attack specifically targeted the port towns of Bandar Lengeh and Bandar Kong, which are vital hubs for regional commercial trade. According to the state-linked Tasnim News Agency, the vessels—described as belonging to local citizens—caught fire during the raid and were “completely burnt.” While the U.S. Pentagon and the IDF have not yet issued a specific inventory of today’s targets, military analysts suggest this represents a pivot toward crippling Iran’s auxiliary and civilian-interfaced maritime infrastructure.

This latest strike follows a pattern of intense aerial bombardment that has defined the three-week-old war. Just ten days ago, on March 10, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the destruction of 16 mine-laying vessels in a separate operation, which President Donald Trump characterized as a “preemptive blow” to prevent the IRGC from sealing the Strait of Hormuz. However, today’s report from Hormozgan indicates that the scope has expanded significantly to include general cargo ships, further paralyzing what remains of Iran’s maritime economy. The local official quoted by Tasnim labeled the event a “deliberate American–Zionist air attack” on the livelihoods of ordinary coastal residents.

The destruction of these vessels comes as the global community scrambles to handle the economic fallout of the conflict, which has already pushed Brent crude toward $120 per barrel. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively a “no-go zone” for unescorted commercial traffic, the loss of these 16 ships adds to a growing list of over 40 vessels confirmed struck or destroyed since the war began on February 28. As fires continue to smolder at the Bandar Lengeh commercial docks, humanitarian groups have raised alarms over the targeting of civilian-owned assets, while the Pentagon maintains that the IRGC frequently uses such vessels for covert military transport and mine deployment.

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Key Maritime Losses in the 2026 Conflict (To Date)

Date	Location	Vessel Type	Count	Reported Status
March 1	Konarak Naval Base	Military / USV	9	Destroyed (USN)
March 10	Strait of Hormuz	Mine-Layers	16	Destroyed (USAF)
March 14	Kharg Island	Tankers / Tugs	5	Damaged / Burnt
March 20	Bandar Lengeh	Cargo Ships	16	Burnt (U.S.-Israel)

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