US and Iran exchange strikes near the Strait of Hormuz

Photo — Farshid Zabbahi / Pexels

Available reporting indicates the conflict has intensified sharply in and around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes. Reuters reported that U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers, while Reuters and other outlets also described Iranian claims of attacks on U.S. naval drones and vessels, suggesting a fast-moving tit-for-tat escalation. Because the situation is still developing and details are changing quickly, the key unknowns are the scale of damage, whether additional military responses follow, and whether shipping through the waterway is disrupted further.

Sources: Reuters, NDTV