The US Navy and its allies have encountered unexpected challenges in attempting to ensure the safety of shipping in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. According to an analysis in The New York Times, the American coalition has so far failed to neutralize the so-called Iranian "mosquito flotilla," which has become the main threat to the tanker fleet. This fleet consists of thousands of high-speed boats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These stealthy vessels can reach speeds of up to 185 kilometers per hour, making them extremely difficult targets for even the most sophisticated targeting systems. Iranian tactics rely on lightning-fast attacks, after which groups of boats instantly disperse and disappear into coastal rocks or among the numerous islands of the gulf, remaining virtually invisible to radar and satellite monitoring systems.

Despite regular Pentagon reports of strikes against Iranian naval infrastructure, the activity of small vessels continues unabated. The "mosquito fleet" boats are equipped not only with heavy machine guns and small missile systems, but also with modern kamikaze drones, enabling them to deliver targeted and damaging strikes against merchant vessels. According to US intelligence, at least twenty serious incidents involving attacks on civilian tankers and bulk carriers have been recorded in the strait since the beginning of the armed conflict. The high maneuverability and mass of Iranian forces allow them to effectively bypass screens of destroyers and frigates, turning the strait into a dangerous "gray zone" where traditional naval warfare methods prove ineffective.