Fighting escalates in Strait of Hormuz as Iran claims strike on US ship

Strait of Hormuz witnessed escalated hostilities on Sunday, as Iran alleged an attack on a U.S. unmanned vessel. The incident marks a fresh escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations. The U.S. has yet to verify the reported assault, which transpired after the U.S. military reported targeting three Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for a missile strike on its warships.

The conflict ignited following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Despite the June ceasefire agreement, intermittent skirmishes have continued, with both sides seeking to inflict military and economic damage as negotiations have unraveled.

Recent hostilities resurfaced last week, following a month of relative calm, with the Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding Iranian communities once again becoming targets. At least five individuals lost their lives during a U.S. bombardment of southern Iran earlier in the week. The Trump administration seems to be employing a dual-prong strategy to resolve the conflict. While responding militarily to attacks on the strait, it has also targeted foreign financial institutions.