US airstrikes intensify Strait of Hormuz tension as Korean ships clear

Two South Korean-registered vessels have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, while three Korean ships—including the damaged HMM Namu—remain detained in the waterway. Each of the departing ships carried four Korean crew members, bringing the total number of Korean seafarers in the region to 13, alongside 30 foreign nationals.

The movements occur amid heightened regional hostilities. Iran attacked the Panama‑flagged tanker MT Kiku, which was transporting more than two million barrels of oil through the strait. In response, the United States conducted a second round of airstrikes within 24 hours, targeting Iranian radar installations, communication networks, air‑defense sites, and drone‑storage facilities. The U.S. Central Command said the strikes were a direct response to Iran’s continued attacks on commercial shipping, which it argued breached the recent cease‑fire agreement. Iran denied the accusations and criticized the United States for destabilising the area.

While diplomatic talks are expected to resume soon, the recent military exchanges have revived concerns over navigation safety and the broader security of a key global energy corridor.