The U.S. military struck two Iranian government tankers Tuesday under a new “tanker for tanker” policy approved by President Donald Trump to retaliate for Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The strikes marked the first time U.S. forces targeted Iranian tankers specifically in retaliation for attacks on vessels transiting the strategic waterway, rather than as part of operations to enforce the American blockade, U.S. officials told Axios. The two tankers were anchored off Iran’s coast north of the U.S. blockade line when American drones fired missiles into their engine rooms, according to the report. CENTCOM said Tuesday’s broader operation came after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to attack commercial vessels transiting the strait and struck roughly 100 targets across Iran.
