'Vast majority' of Iran's attempted attacks on Strait of Hormuz are unsuccessful, CENTCOM spokesman says

The "vast majority" of Iran's attempted attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz are "unsuccessful" as the key waterway remains open for transit, U.S.

Central Command Spokesperson U.S.

Navy Capt.

Tim Hawkins told Fox News Digital this week.

Hawkins spoke after CENTCOM said the GFS Pride, a Singapore-flagged, Cyprus-owned container ship was hit by an Iranian projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday and sunk while being towed ashore due to a fire on board the ship.

"The vast majority of Iran's attempted attacks on innocent civilian mariners transiting an international waterway, being the Strait of Hormuz, they are unsuccessful.

As a matter of fact, the U.S. military has assisted in providing coordinated protection for thousands of ships that have safely transited," Hawkins said.

"That translates to about 97% of the ships that have sought to transit the Strait of Hormuz have done so successfully without being hit by an Iranian projectile.

"But let's be clear here, what the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran is doing is unjustified and it's also unsuccessful because they are not achieving their objective of closing the Strait of Hormuz," he added.

"It is open, it is available for transit, and we've seen that transit continue this very day." LIVE UPDATES: IRANIAN ARMY SPOKESPERSON SAYS STRAIT OF HORMUZ WILL REOPEN 'IF AMERICA LEAVES THE REGION' In an update Friday from CENTCOM Commander Adm.

Brad Cooper, he said, "In recent days and months, we have seen the IRGC continually attack merchant ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and in many cases kill innocent civilian mariners.

"The International Maritime Organization reports that more than 20 civilian mariners have been killed by Iran's attacks against commercial shipping since February," Cooper continued.

"Over the last seven days alone, about 400 merchant ships have sailed through the Strait.

U.S. forces have also assisted Gulf partners in shipping over 100 million barrels of crude oil during the same period, adding to the more than 1.3 billion barrels of crude we have helped regional allies ship through the Strait in recent months," he added.