Report: Iran’s IRGC hit 7 ‘violating’ oilers in Hormuz Strait in 5 days

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) navy has targeted at least seven oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz over the span of five days, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. The IRGC has struck more than one oil tanker daily, despite US President Donald Trump's assertions that the strait remains open and under the United States' control.

Two of the targeted tankers were destroyed on Friday, one at the strait's entrance and the other while exiting. The victims included two Kuwaiti tankers, Al Funtas and Kazimah III, as well as three vessels belonging to the United Arab Emirates: Sinbad, Mersin Prosperity, and Al Ruwais. In response to the attack on Kazimah III, five Indian nationals were rescued by the Indian Embassy in Oman.

Iran's shipping official, Mohammad-Reza Modarres Khiabani, declared the US seizure of the Iranian-flagged container ship Touska, which occurred in April during a ceasefire between Tehran and Washington, as a "war crime." Khiabani argued that the attack on the commercial ship, which was transporting medicines for Iranian Red Crescent Society patients, violated international law and constituted a hostile act.

The US Navy allegedly struck Touska's engine room and held 28 crew members hostage. Tensions between Iran and the United States escalated following Israel's and the US's joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities on February 28. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israel and US bases, tightening its control over the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire was reached on April 8, but negotiations between the two nations to end the war failed by August 17.