Trump Claims Iranian Navy Nearly Annihilated; Experts: 'Mosquito Fleet' Still Poses Threat
Analysts point out that the true strength of the Iranian navy lies in its 'mosquito fleet,' composed of drones, naval mines, and small attack boats, posing a strategic challenge to the US military. Despite Trump's claims of heavy damage to the Iranian navy, this asymmetric warfare capability remains a deterrent.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 14:29
- 🔍 Collected: May 9, 2026 at 15:01 (32 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 15:14 (13 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, London, 8th, comprehensive foreign reports) Although US President Trump claimed that the Iranian navy has suffered heavy losses, analysts point out that Iran's true maritime power has never been a conventional navy, but rather a cheap, multi-layered, and unconventional warfare system composed of drones, naval mines, and small attack boats.
CNN reported that military analysts refer to these small fleets deployed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as 'mosquito fleets.' The missiles, artillery, and other weapons carried on these boats pose a significant strategic challenge to the US military, which attempts to minimize threats in vast waters.
This is essentially a water-based guerrilla warfare, and geographical conditions also favor Iran, as there are no alternative routes for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow for sea power at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a British think tank, stated that the core issue is the considerable number of vessels required to provide regional defense for commercial shipping, which would be extremely resource-intensive.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been using small fast boats for decades, especially after the US military's operations in the Persian Gulf in 1988 proved capable of severely damaging Iran's conventional navy.
Kaushal stated that since then, Iran's regular navy has, to some extent, become more like a 'parade force,' while the IRGC's true navy has been built around asymmetric warfare capabilities that Iran believes can truly be useful in war, always being a more strategically important force.
Kaushal said that these small boats and unmanned vessels, which require minimal crew, are very difficult to detect because they are so close to the water's surface, and radar systems often detect them too late. The US military needs to deploy helicopters and drones to effectively track these threats.
According to a report by the Washington-based Hudson Institute, the IRGC navy also uses modified civilian vessels for covert operations such as minelaying, increasing the difficulty of monitoring. 'This entire strategic framework is designed to create friction and attrition, rather than seeking or winning decisive naval engagements.'
Nick Childs, a senior research fellow for naval and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a British think tank, stated that the biggest challenge posed by the 'mosquito fleet' to the US military and merchant ships is that 'you can never be 100% sure if something will break through the defenses.' (Editor: Chang Ming-hsuan) 1150509
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(Central News Agency, London, 8th, comprehensive foreign reports) Although US President Trump claimed that the Iranian navy has suffered heavy losses, analysts point out that Iran's true maritime power has never been a conventional navy, but rather a cheap, multi-layered, and unconventional warfare system composed of drones, naval mines, and small attack boats.
CNN reported that military analysts refer to these small fleets deployed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as 'mosquito fleets.' The missiles, artillery, and other weapons carried on these boats pose a significant strategic challenge to the US military, which attempts to minimize threats in vast waters.
This is essentially a water-based guerrilla warfare, and geographical conditions also favor Iran, as there are no alternative routes for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Sidharth Kaushal, a senior research fellow for sea power at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a British think tank, stated that the core issue is the considerable number of vessels required to provide regional defense for commercial shipping, which would be extremely resource-intensive.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been using small fast boats for decades, especially after the US military's operations in the Persian Gulf in 1988 proved capable of severely damaging Iran's conventional navy.
Kaushal stated that since then, Iran's regular navy has, to some extent, become more like a 'parade force,' while the IRGC's true navy has been built around asymmetric warfare capabilities that Iran believes can truly be useful in war, always being a more strategically important force.
Kaushal said that these small boats and unmanned vessels, which require minimal crew, are very difficult to detect because they are so close to the water's surface, and radar systems often detect them too late. The US military needs to deploy helicopters and drones to effectively track these threats.
According to a report by the Washington-based Hudson Institute, the IRGC navy also uses modified civilian vessels for covert operations such as minelaying, increasing the difficulty of monitoring. 'This entire strategic framework is designed to create friction and attrition, rather than seeking or winning decisive naval engagements.'
Nick Childs, a senior research fellow for naval and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a British think tank, stated that the biggest challenge posed by the 'mosquito fleet' to the US military and merchant ships is that 'you can never be 100% sure if something will break through the defenses.' (Editor: Chang Ming-hsuan) 1150509
Stand with the facts, every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.