US Strikes Iranian Tankers in 'Tanker for Tanker' Policy — SkimNews
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- U.S. military struck two Iranian government tankers anchored off Iran's coast north of the blockade line, with drones hitting their engine rooms — the first such strikes aimed at retaliation rather than enforcing the naval blockade.
- Trump approved the new 'tanker for tanker' policy to further deter Iranian attacks on tankers moving through the strait, U.S. officials said.
- IRGC air defense sites, radar systems, mine-laying capabilities, communications sites, anti-ship cruise missile launchers, and attack drone launchers were among around 100 targets hit in Tuesday's U.S. strikes.
- Iran fired 25 ballistic missiles in retaliation, with only half reaching Jordanian airspace, 10 intercepted, and three landing without casualties, alongside two dozen drones launched at U.S. bases in Bahrain, missiles and drones at bases in Kuwait, and two intercepted drones at a U.S. base in Erbil.
- U.S. forces continued guiding ships through the strait as both sides exchanged fire, with about 40 ships transiting on Tuesday carrying millions of barrels of oil and several anti-ship cruise missiles and drones intercepted before reaching their targets.
- CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins rejected Iranian state media reports that a U.S. strike hit a wedding in Kuhestak, killing at least four and wounding 35, saying 'We're aware of the reports, which originated from Iranian state media. The U.S. military never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC.'
- A U.S. official said the strikes degraded Iran's attack capabilities in the strait and 'bought at least a month' of lowered threat levels for commercial ships, adding: 'The Iranians have not only lost control of the Strait of Hormuz, they have also lost control over the conflict. They got nothing today.'
Why it matters: The 'tanker for tanker' policy shifts U.S. military objectives from enforcing the naval blockade to striking Iranian vessels in direct retaliation, with about 40 ships carrying millions of barrels of oil still transiting the strait daily. A U.S. official said the strikes degraded Iran's capabilities and 'bought at least a month' of lowered threat for commercial ships.
Ask SkimNews
