US Strikes Two Iranian Oil Tankers in New Campaign Against Tehran

The United States has resumed hostilities against Iran in a new campaign of military strikes. In response to Iranian attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out a wave of strikes against two Iranian oil tankers, marking a change from previous incidents where only ships attempting to run the ongoing U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports were targeted.

The new 'tanker-for-tanker' targeting policy was reportedly approved by President Trump and aims to further deter Iranian attacks on tankers passing through the strait. According to CENTCOM, the two Iranian oil tankers were struck in their engine rooms by U.S. drones launched from off Iran's coast.

Iranian officials claimed that several civilians were killed in the strikes, prompting Tehran to launch a retaliatory barrage of missiles and drones against U.S. facilities in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, and Kuwait.