US Forces Strike Iranian Oil Tanker Near Kharg Island
US forces carried out an operation against an Iranian oil tanker near Kharg Island on Saturday morning, according to reports from Iranian media outlets. Multiple explosions were heard, and the tanker is being evacuated, with no casualties reported so far.
The incident comes after a series of escalating tensions between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic energy transit chokepoint. Just a day prior, Tehran reportedly launched anti-ship missiles against vessels in the area, but details on targets or damage inflicted were not provided by Iranian media.
Last Sunday, conflict resumed after the US carried out strikes on Iranian rocket launchers, citing an 'imminent threat' to commercial shipping. The IRGC confirmed the strikes hit Larak Island and vowed to retaliate, launching their own attacks on US bases across the Middle East. CENTCOM forces responded with another wave of strikes targeting IRGC air defense sites, mine laying capabilities, radar systems, maritime assets, and communications sites.
The latest operation raises concerns about the safety of oil tankers navigating through the sensitive waterway, which has been at the center of negotiations between Washington and Tehran since late February. The US claims its actions are in response to 'recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping' in the Strait of Hormuz.