According to US officials, American forces reportedly struck approximately 60 Iranian military targets in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday while defending commercial vessels from drone and missile attacks. These actions follow a broader US strategy, including a naval blockade, aimed at securing the waterway and exerting economic pressure on Iran since the conflict began on February 28, 2026.

The recent escalation follows a series of incidents, including US strikes on Iranian rocket launchers earlier in the week.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that recent Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure are contributing to a global "energy shock" and increased prices, a view supported by Kpler data showing refinery runs fell to roughly 3.

8 million barrels per day in July. These disruptions have coincided with existing market strains, with Bessent also citing impacts from the conflict involving Iran.

According to two US officials, American military forces escorted 40 commercial vessels carrying approximately 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday while striking 60 targets and reportedly neutralizing various threats. These officials described the operation as a peak in recent activity, noting that it occurred amid continued exchanges of strikes between the US and Iran, although the source notes that the broader conflict lacks a near-term resolution.

Saudi Arabia has formally attributed the incident involving the *Sidr* tanker, resulting in two reported fatalities, to Iranian actions during its transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Regional governments, including Kuwait and Qatar, have characterized the event as a violation of international maritime law, while the vessel’s owner, Bahri, has confirmed the occurrence of a security incident and ongoing coordination with authorities.

The attack is described as part of a broader series of incidents linked to the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran.