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US and Iran Trade Retaliatory Attacks on Ships
Confirmed
In Short: US and Iran traded retaliatory attacks on ships in the latest round of conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military said it had 'permanently disabled' two Iran-linked oil tankers, including one near Kharg Island, and 'completely destroyed' a third in the Gulf of Oman, according to US Central Command (Centcom).
Iran's state media confirmed the strikes and said Tehran had attacked three US-affiliated vessels in response, as well as three oil tankers travelling through the Strait of Hormuz along an 'unauthorised' route, according to Irib, an Iranian state media outlet.
According to Centcom, two US warships had been targeted by Iran before the American attack on the three Iran-linked oil tankers. The US military said it 'successfully evaded' multiple attacks from the IRGC earlier in the day, which were targeting a US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer.
Iranian state media reported that there were no casualties in Saturday's attack from the US on the tanker near Kharg Island. The IRGC said the three oil tankers were using 'unauthorised' routes through the strait and warned other ships not to do so.
Several hours later, the IRGC reportedly retaliated against six ships in the region - three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and three vessels 'affiliated' with the US 'in other areas,' according to Irib.
The Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial to the world's oil and gas industry, has been effectively closed since the war began in February, and has become a major source of leverage for Iran. The US and Israel first launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February, with Iran responding by attacking Israel, US bases, and allied states in the Gulf, and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to marine traffic.
Kharg Island hosts Iran's main terminal to export oil, and the attacks highlight the ongoing tension in the region, with both sides accusing each other of unauthorized actions and threatening further retaliation.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- "I call it a military conflict because it's small potatoes for us. It's not a big thing," Trump said, referring to the ongoing attacks as "intermittent".
- US Central Command released footage of the strikes on Iran-linked tankers The US and Iran traded retaliatory attacks on ships on Saturday, in the latest round of strikes since fighting flared up a week ago following a month of relative calm.
- The strikes come a day after President Donald Trump dismissed the conflict as "small potatoes", with little apparent progress towards ending the six-month war.
- U.S. forces have launched airstrikes against Iran in recent days following a brief pause in hostilities amid renewed flare-ups in the Strait of Hormuz.