US airstrikes and Iranian tanker attacks heighten conflict in the Strait of Hormuz

The United States has conducted a seventh consecutive night of air raids on Iranian targets, striking military sites, bridges, an airport and other infrastructure. The U.S. Central Command said the attacks aim to further weaken Iran’s military capabilities.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that four oil tankers attempting to cross the southern Strait of Hormuz were intercepted; two of those vessels caught fire after explosions in a mined area. The Guard declared the strait “extremely dangerous and completely closed” and warned of possible broader blockage.

Bahrain sounded civil‑defence sirens, urging residents to seek safety as the Gulf region repeatedly experiences Iranian retaliation against U.S. strikes. Oman has offered to mediate to keep commercial traffic open. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing a larger offensive that could include strikes on strategic Iranian facilities such as the island of Kharg, raising concerns of further escalation. The tension has already pushed Brent crude up about 4%, reflecting market anxiety over a potential disruption of a vital oil route.