• Source:JND

US-Iran War: What was initially promised as a 'four or five' week campaign has now stretched into a two-month conflict, as the White House struggles to finalise a conflict that has been full of setbacks for Washington. US President Donald Trump's administration appears to have underestimated the Iranian military's resolve, especially regarding their ability to fight in the air or to maintain a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

While Iran's low-cost Shahed drones and defence systems are capable of even shooting the most advanced US jets, including an F-35, the situation at sea remains more challenging. While the US and Israel claim to have destroyed most of the Iranian warships, a 'mosquito fleet' of small, fast boats continues to pose a threat.

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What Is Iran's 'Mosquito Fleet'?

The mosquito fleet is a group of small, fast boats designed to monitor and attack ships near the Strait of Hormuz. This flotilla is the core of the naval force deployed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a force that operates alongside the Iranian army, The New York Times reported. The IRGC added this naval fleet around 1986, several years after its land forces were established.

In the past, these small attack boats were originally modified using recreational vessels equipped with machine guns or rocket-propelled grenades. Since then, the IRGC has focused on developing a range of these small craft, along with miniature submarines and marine drones. These boats can reach speeds of up to 100 knots (185 km/h), allowing them to move quickly in the narrow waters of the Strait.

Who Operates 'Mosquito Fleet'?

The Mosquito fleet is developed and controlled by the IRGC, which is currently using it to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed to international shipping.

Speaking to The New York Times, Saeid Golkar, a political science professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, said, "The IRGC Navy works more like a guerrilla force at sea. It is focused on asymmetrical warfare, especially in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.”

"So instead of relying on big warships and classic naval battles, it depends on hit-and-run attacks," he added.

This tactic is already having an impact on the shipping. According to the International Maritime Agency, at least 20 vessels have been attacked during the ongoing conflict.

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Hidden In Caves: How Iran's 'Mosquito Fleet' Remains A Threat?

Despite their small size, the flotilla maintains a vast operational reach in the Iranian waters. While recent US and Israeli strikes reportedly destroyed half of the fleet, experts estimate that hundreds, even thousands, of these vessels still remain active.

According to analysts, these boats are too small to appear on satellites and are parked within deep, fortified caves excavated along Iran's rocky coastline. Reports suggest Iran has at least 10 of these well-hidden bases, allowing the attack boat to be deployed in minutes to target commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.

Admiral Gary Roughead, a retired chief of US Naval Operations, said, "It remains a disruptive force. You never quite knew what they were up to and what their intentions were."

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