The United States Navy confirmed that, on Thursday night, it launched precision strikes against two Iranian‑flagged oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The attacks were carried out in direct response to missile assaults earlier this week that damaged the USS Portland (DDG‑124) and the USS St. Paul (CG‑55) during routine patrols.
According to the Department of Defense, the tankers, identified as the Al‑Mansur and Al‑Rashid, were deemed legitimate military targets because they were transporting fuel to Iranian naval bases. No civilian casualties were reported. The Iranian government condemned the strikes as “unlawful aggression” and vowed a proportional response, raising concerns of an escalation in the already tense Gulf region.