US Strikes 80+ Targets in Iran After Oil Tankers Hit in Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. military confirmed it struck over 80 targets in Iran on Thursday, following what it described as Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz [191608][191644]. The operation also aims to block Iran from openly selling crude oil on the global market [191644]. State media in Iran reported explosions in the southern city of Bushehr, though details on casualties or damage remain unclear [191608].

The escalation began when an oil tanker was struck and set on fire by an "unknown projectile" off the coast of Oman, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) [190757]. Another tanker was hit by a projectile in the same waterway, with Iranian state television reporting the vessel caught fire after ignoring warnings [190861]. A U.S. official said Iranian missiles struck two commercial ships, threatening a fragile ceasefire and risking disruption to energy flows in the Gulf [190878].

In response, the U.S. launched airstrikes, and oil prices surged as the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway for global oil transport—became a flashpoint [191362]. Iran accused the U.S. of violating the ceasefire after the strikes hit coastal surveillance and monitoring facilities along its southern coast [191599]. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed they attacked U.S. military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for Washington’s strikes [191551]. Bahrain’s state television reported that its air defenses intercepted Iranian aerial attacks on Wednesday [191607].

The cross-border attacks have raised fears of a broader regional war, as both sides continue to trade strikes despite calls for de-escalation [191499].