Is it a photo of 85 IRGC Navy fast attack craft detaining in the Strait of Hormuz?

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Since early 2026, conflict in the Middle East has disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Amidst this situation, misleading information has also circulated online. Presented below is our fact-check of a satellite image claimed to have been taken in the Strait of Hormuz.

Social Media Posts:

A social media post published on May 5 claimed that a satellite image showed the IRGC Navy deploying 85 fast attack craft in the Strait of Hormuz. The post detailed the following:

“Satellite imagery released this morning appears to show the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy assembling a large ‘mosquito fleet’ south of Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Formation, Size, and Location: Reports indicate that over 85 speedboats were observed in a formation spanning approximately 22 kilometers. These vessels, designed for “swarm tactics,” are positioned south of Qeshm Island—a critical choke point through which 20-30% of the world’s oil supply passes.

Analysts suggest these high-speed Iranian boats pose a significant threat to larger US Navy warships, as they are difficult to target and are armed with missiles and RPGs. Tensions have escalated following the US launch of “Operation Project Freedom,” an initiative aimed at breaking the blockade and ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels.

This post is for informational purposes only, based on recent international news reports, and is not intended to promote hate speech or violence.

Facebook | Archived Link

These posts have been widely shared by international social media users on Facebook, where they appear to have originated. Facebook Post 1 | Facebook Post 2

We have taken steps to verify the accuracy of these claims.

Fact-Check:

Although the social media post claims its information stems from recent international news, our investigation found no reports of the Mosquito Fleet positioning in the Strait of Hormuz on May 5th or any other recent date. Furthermore, a reverse image search failed to identify any credible international media outlets featuring the alleged satellite photo.

The Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital maritime route in the Persian Gulf. While the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) typically operates small, fast vessels in these waters, no official sources confirm the existence of a large, orderly convoy as depicted in the image.

Closer inspection of the image reveals the watermark “Grok,” indicating it was generated by artificial intelligence.

To verify this, we processed the photo through an AI-detection tool, which definitively confirmed the image was AI-generated.

On May 3rd, Press TV reported on satellite imagery showing 40 IRGC Navy fast attack boats returning from a patrol mission in the Strait of Hormuz.

While the photo circulating on social media is AI-generated, recent reports and authentic satellite imagery confirm significant military activity in the region.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has reportedly deployed its “Mosquito Fleet”—a large number of fast attack craft—south of Qeshm Island. While these reports cannot be independently verified, sources indicate that more than 85 small boats have been observed in coordinated operations spanning approximately 22 kilometers; more information is available here and can be seen here.

Due to the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely ceased since March 2026. This has affected about 30% of the world’s seaborne oil supply.

There are no official military records of an operation titled “Operation: Sea Phalanx.” The term “Phalanx” typically refers to the Phalanx CIWS radar system used by the US Navy for defense against small boat attacks.

We invite you to learn more about our fact-checking efforts.

Conclusion:

Our investigation concludes that the photo circulating on social media, claiming to show 85 IRGC Navy fast attack craft in the Strait of Hormuz, is AI-generated. Additionally, there is no official military operation named “Operation: Sea Phalanx.” Conversely, international media reports confirm that the general military situation described in the original post reflects the current reality in the Strait of Hormuz.