Iran missile attacks on tankers in Strait of Hormuz kill crew member, spark US retaliation

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched cruise missiles at two UAE‑flagged tankers, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, while they were transited through Omani waters in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes killed an Indian seaman and injured eight crew members – six Indians and two Ukrainians – and caused material damage to the vessels.

The United Arab Emirates condemned the attack as a “brazen violation of international law.” In response, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a reinstated naval blockade of Iranian ports and a 20 % fee on all cargoes passing the Strait, describing the United States as the “guardian of the Hormuz Strait.” The United States also carried out a five‑hour wave of strikes against Iranian targets, the third consecutive night of the renewed campaign.

Separately, Iran fired ballistic missiles at a U.S. air base in Jordan. Jordan’s air defenses intercepted four missiles, and the United States concluded its retaliatory strikes. The heightened tensions pushed oil prices up about 3 % to a four‑week high, underscoring the strategic importance of the waterway for global energy supplies.