US fires on more Iranian tankers in Strait of Hormuz as tensions rise – 1News

US military forces disabled two Iranian oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday after the vessels attempted to breach an American blockade of Iranian ports.

The US military released video showing American fighter jets striking the smokestacks of the two tankers. This action followed a similar engagement earlier in the week, during which a US military jet shot out the rudder of a tanker attempting to bypass the blockade.

The strikes occurred as part of a series of escalations in the waterway. The US military reported that it had thwarted Iranian attacks on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz and subsequently struck Iranian military facilities in retaliation.

Simultaneously, the United Arab Emirates’ Defence Ministry reported that Iranian forces launched two ballistic missiles and three drones toward its territory. UAE air defenses engaged the projectiles, and officials confirmed that three people were wounded in the attack.

The current hostilities follow a war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28. Since the start of the conflict, Iran has largely blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy, resulting in a spike in international fuel prices. In response, the United States has maintained its own blockade of Iranian ports.

These latest military engagements cast doubt on a month-old ceasefire that the United States maintains is still in effect. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued warnings to the US against continuing attacks on ships.

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict remain ongoing. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated he hopes to receive a “serious offer” from Iran regarding a US proposal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and roll back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.

Washington is currently awaiting a response from Iran regarding the proposal.