US Sinks 6 Iranian Boats in Hormuz While Trump Flies to Beijing: Oil Hits $107, Markets Slide

# US Sinks 6 Iranian Boats in Hormuz While Trump Flies to Beijing: Oil Hits $107, Markets Slide

> **Quick answer:** CENTCOM confirmed US military helicopters destroyed six Iranian small boats in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after Iran fired cruise missiles at US destroyers and commercial vessels. The incident happened simultaneously with Iran striking the UAE with 12 ballistic missiles and 4 drones — and while President Trump was mid-flight to Beijing for the May 14–15 Trump-Xi summit. Brent crude surged to $107.58, WTI hit $101.37, and US equities fell on the news. A hotter-than-expected CPI print of 3.8% added fuel to the market selloff.

US military forces destroyed six Iranian small boats in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, May 12, just hours before President Trump's Air Force One departed for Beijing — a collision of military escalation and high-stakes diplomacy that sent Brent crude surging to $107.58 and rattled equity markets already on edge from a hotter-than-expected inflation print.

## What CENTCOM Confirmed: 6 Boats, Cruise Missiles, and a Disputed Count

CENTCOM commander General Michael Kurilla confirmed that US attack helicopters sank six Iranian fast boats after the boats attempted to interfere with two US-flagged commercial vessels and two Navy destroyers — USS Truxton and USS Mason — transiting under "Project Freedom," the US operation to restore commercial shipping through the strait.

According to CENTCOM, the Iranian attack sequence unfolded as follows: