U.S. Forces Conduct Additional Strikes on Iranian Targets After Tanker Attack

U.S. Central Command conducted additional strikes against multiple Iranian targets on Saturday in direct response to an attack on a Panama-flagged tanker near the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM forces launched the strikes after an unidentified projectile hit the tanker, damaging its bridge.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported that the crew remained safe and no environmental damage occurred. Tanker traffic through the strait has eased since late last week as operators assess risks. Earlier on Saturday Iran struck another ship in the strait and launched drone and missile strikes on Bahrain.

Bahrain stated it was hit by a number of Iranian drones and condemned the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty. Iranian state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted several U.S. military locations in the Persian Gulf.

The U.S. military had carried out strikes on Iranian military sites on Friday after Iran’s initial attack on the container ship Ever Lovely on Thursday. Those earlier strikes followed the violation of a 60-day ceasefire agreement signed the previous week.

A U.S. official said the strikes do not reflect a return to major combat operations, at least for now. No publicly released evidence has documented the operators of the vessels struck in the Strait of Hormuz.

Bahrain’s foreign ministry has not issued additional statements beyond its condemnation of the drone attacks.