US strikes Iranian targets in Strait of Hormuz

Photo — I Bautista / Pexels

The strikes mark a potentially major escalation between Washington and Tehran, with explosions also reported on Iran’s Qeshm Island. The US says the operation was defensive, but the episode risks widening the conflict and disrupting one of the world’s most important energy transit routes. The development comes as the United States prepares for crucial midterm elections and as global markets already face pressure from war-related energy costs, trade tensions and elevated borrowing costs.

Sources: Associated Press, BBC News, Reuters