Iran Claims Retaliatory Missile Attacks on US Vessels in Hormuz Strait Following US Strikes on Iranian Oil Tankers

The United States struck three Iranian oil tankers in the Hormuz Strait, according to reports from *ouest-france*. In retaliation, Iran's IRGC claimed it had launched missile attacks on several ships, including those allegedly linked to the United States. The IRGC stated that US aircraft carriers and destroyers were forced to flee after being targeted by Iranian missiles, as reported by *middle-east-eye* and *middle-east-eye*. Iran's IRGC also claimed it had attacked three tankers that passed through the Hormuz Strait without authorization, as well as three US-affiliated vessels in other areas. These claims were reported by *ynet* and *xinhua*. The sources diverge on the specifics of the attacks: *middle-east-eye* and *middle-east-eye* focus on the US vessels being forced to flee, while *ynet* and *xinhua* emphasize Iran's targeting of both unauthorized tankers and US-affiliated ships. The event marks a significant escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran, with both sides accusing each other of provocative actions. The IRGC's claims of attacking US vessels and the US's strikes on Iranian tankers highlight the ongoing hostility in the region, particularly in the strategic Hormuz Strait.