US Strikes Iran, Hits Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz

On Wednesday, the United States initiated a fresh series of strikes against Iran, focusing on military assets that pose a threat to maritime activities in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump cautioned that he might escalate the attacks if Iran does not engage in negotiations. According to US Central Command, the operations commenced at 1900 GMT. A US aircraft launched Hellfire missiles at the smokestack of the Curacao-flagged oil tanker M/T Belma, rendering it inoperable as it attempted to breach the naval blockade of Iranian ports. The vessel is no longer heading to Iran. Iranian state media reported blasts in several locations, including Bandar Abbas, Rask, Chabahar, Qeshm, Bandar Imam Khomeini, and Bushehr, where Iran's sole civilian nuclear facility is located.