Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy stated that since the commander of U.S. Central Command visited the Strait of Hormuz on October 25, 11 oil tankers "violating" navigation rules have caught fire in the strait, with several sinking. The Iranian Navy statement said these incidents occurred within nine days of Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, conducting an aerial visit to the strategic waterway. U.S. Central Command had previously stated that during his visit, Cooper "flew over international waters in a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter to observe the current operating environment."