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U.S. launches fresh strikes in retaliation for Iranian attack on tanker

Barak Ravid

Tankers floating in a body of water. — Tankers preparing to enter the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: Shady Alassar/Anadolu via Getty Images

The U.S. military is conducting strikes on Iranian targets in the area of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for an attack Saturday morning on a commercial tanker, the U.S. military central command said.

Why it matters: This is the second wave of U.S. strikes in Iran over the last 24 hours, amid increasing tensions in the strait —which could put the shaky U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding at risk.

Driving the news: On Saturday morning the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps launched an attack drone at the M/T Kiku tanker, which was passing in the Strait of Hormuz with more than two million barrels of crude oil, CENTCOM said.

The incident happened several hours after the U.S. conducted strikes on Iranian targets in retaliation for another attack on a commercial ship on Thursday.
The Iranians retaliated to the first wave of U.S. strikes by attacking targets in Bahrain early Saturday.

State of play: CENTCOM said in a statement that U.S. aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.

What they are saying: "Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to," CENTCOM said.

This is a developing story.

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U.S. launches fresh strikes in retaliation for Iranian attack on tanker

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