US forces have initiated strikes against Iran following attacks on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as confirmed by the US Central Command. The strikes aim to retaliate against Iran for targeting and attacking commercial vessels with innocent civilians in an international waterway.
Explosions were reported near Iran’s Qeshm Island and the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, according to Iranian state outlet Press TV citing Xinhua news agency. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations documented three separate attacks involving tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with no casualties reported in any of the incidents.
In the first incident, a tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile causing a fire, while in the second incident, another tanker was struck by a projectile leading to structural damage. The most recent incident involved a tanker sustaining minor structural damage after being hit by a drone, with the vessel continuing its journey to the next port of call.
Sources familiar with the situation have confirmed the identities of two of the vessels involved in the attacks: one is a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker, and the other is a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker. Earlier reports indicated that the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps targeted two tankers on a US-backed Omani route in the Strait of Hormuz after they allegedly ignored warnings.
