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Middle East crisis live: US targets Iranian boats amid tense push for control of strait of Hormuz
TL;DR
The US and Iran have intensified military actions in the Gulf, targeting each other's assets amid a struggle for control over the strait of Hormuz. The US claims to have destroyed six Iranian boats, while Iran has launched drone attacks on the UAE.
Key points
- US and Iran launched new attacks in the Gulf
- Control over the strait of Hormuz is contested
- US claims to have destroyed six Iranian boats
- Iran attacked the UAE with drones and missiles
- US navy destroyers are operating in the Gulf
Mentioned in this story
US Central CommandMaerskstrait of HormuzUAEDonald Trump
We are restarting our live coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran. The US and Iran launched new attacks in the Gulf on Monday as they wrestled for control over the strait of Hormuz amid dual maritime blockades, taking the region back to the brink of full-scale war.
The fresh volleys of missiles and drones came after Donald Trump launched a new effort to get stranded tankers and other ships through the vital energy and trade route that has been virtually shut since the US-Israeli war against Iran began in late February.
On Monday, several merchant ships in the Gulf reported explosions or fires, the US said it had destroyed six small Iranian military boats – a claim Tehran denied – and Iran attacked the UAE with drones and missiles, setting the oil port of Fujairah on fire.
The US military’s Central Command (Centcom) said two US-flagged merchant vessels crossed through the strait of Hormuz on Monday as US navy destroyers operated in the Gulf. Shipping company Maersk later said one of its US-flagged commercial vessels had successfully exited the strait under US military escort.
Donald Trump departing a White House event on Monday. Photograph: Annabelle Gordon/UPI/EPA
In other key developments:
- Trump warned that Iran’s forces would be “blown off the face of the earth” if they attacked US vessels trying to reopen a route through the strait. The president announced the US operation – called Project Freedom – on Monday to help hundreds of ships trapped in the Gulf.
- Centcom chief Adm Brad Cooper declined to say whether he thought the ceasefire with Tehran that begun on 8 April remained in effect amid Iranian attacks in the region but acknowledged Iran’s Revolutionary Guards tried to “interfere” with Trump’s operation.
Q&A
What recent military actions have the US and Iran taken in the Gulf?
The US and Iran launched new attacks, with the US claiming to have destroyed six Iranian military boats and Iran attacking the UAE with drones and missiles.
Why is the strait of Hormuz significant in the US-Iran conflict?
The strait of Hormuz is a vital energy and trade route, making control over it crucial for both the US and Iran amid ongoing tensions.
What impact has the US-Israeli war against Iran had on maritime shipping?
The war has led to maritime blockades, causing significant disruptions and reports of explosions and fires on merchant ships in the Gulf.
How are US military forces involved in the Gulf region currently?
US navy destroyers are operating in the Gulf, and two US-flagged merchant vessels successfully crossed the strait of Hormuz under US military escort.
