Iran reports tanker damage in the Strait of Hormuz

Iranian forces said Thursday that at least five tankers had been damaged in the Strait of Hormuz. Al Jazeera reported the claim. The circumstances and number of ships affected had yet to be independently established in the reporting available for this story.

The claim followed US strikes earlier in the week that an American official described as defensive. The strait links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and is a key route for energy shipments. For shipping companies, the immediate question is whether vessels can transit safely while the conflict continues.