US Strikes Iranian Tankers Amid Escalating Conflict
The US military has launched airstrikes against Iranian tankers in response to missile attacks on a US warship. This is the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations, which began more than six months ago.
According to reports from Iran's state-run media, the US attacked at least five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island in the Strait of Hormuz. The crews of the vessels were told to abandon ship before the attacks.
The strikes come after the US military destroyed three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday following two attacks on a US warship by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US will not allow Iran's attacks to go unanswered, adding 'For every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers.'
Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran expert at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, warned that such back-and-forth strikes can only risk more retaliation and further impact the global economy. He noted 'There is no kinetic solution to the Strait of Hormuz problem.'