US launches strikes on Iran after attacks on commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz

WASHINGTON, United States — CENTCOM said Wednesday it launched heavy airstrikes against targets in Iran following attacks on three commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, calling the operation a response to strikes targeting civilian vessels in international waters. The command said Iran would "pay a heavy price" for what it described as attacks on commercial ships operated by innocent civilians, and condemned the strikes as a clear violation of a ceasefire reached with Washington. The command did not immediately disclose the nature of the Iranian targets hit or the extent of the damage. According to Reuters, a Qatari-flagged LNG tanker caught fire near its engine room, while a Saudi oil tanker sustained damage off the coast of Oman. A US Navy-led maritime authority raised the threat level for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to "severe," and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Agency reported a fire on a vessel struck by an unknown munition off the Omani coast. The escalation came amid a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, and Washington separately revoked Iran's oil sales license. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical waterway for a significant share of global oil and gas exports, with developments there directly affecting international energy markets. No further details on the scope of the strikes or casualties were immediately available.