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

Cairo — Iran announced on Sunday that it had targeted an unmanned U.S. ship attempting to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, a recent escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations. The U.S. has yet to officially confirm the alleged strike, which transpired the day after the U.S. military reported the destruction of three Iranian oil tankers in response to a missile assault on Navy vessels.

The conflict originated with U.S. and Israeli assaults on Iran on February 28. Although a ceasefire pact was declared in June, intermittent skirmishes have continued, with both sides attempting to inflict both military and economic harm as talks have unraveled. The current attacks emerged a week after hostilities resumed, following a month of relative tranquility, with the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian territories surrounding it once more facing threats.

At least five individuals perished during the U.S. bombardment of southern Iran earlier in the week. The Trump administration seems to have adopted a dual-prong strategy to the dispute, responding physically to assaults on the strait while targeting foreign financial institutions.