Tensions are rising in the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S. military says it struck three Iranian oil tankers, prompting immediate Iranian retaliation and renewed concern over a wider conflict. Iran also warned that if South Korea becomes involved in the situation, it would view that as participation in the war.
According to the report, U.S. Central Command said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired missiles at two U.S. Navy ships on patrol and hit three Iranian crude carriers. It identified the damaged vessels as the Dawn near Kharg Island, Stark 1 near Jask and the Khailo in the Gulf of Oman, saying the ships had been used to fund Iran and were disabled after crews were told to abandon them.
Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, said the response would be costly for Iran if its forces attacked American ships. He also said the United States would destroy Iran’s oil transport fleet if necessary, adding to concerns that military confrontation in the waterway could intensify.
The command said U.S. aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer units successfully avoided the Iranian attack and that no U.S. service members were injured. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the situation in the Middle East should be viewed as a local conflict rather than a war.
