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strikeMay 8, 2026

US forces hit tankers trying to break Iran blockade as military says embargo has stalled 70 ships

Summary

US forces hit tankers trying to break Iran blockade as military says embargo has stalled 70 ships WASHINGTON — The US military launched a new series of airstrikes Friday, targeting a group of empty tankers in the Strait of Hormuz that were trying to barrel through the blockade of Iranian ports, according to Fox News. An unknown number of ships were struck, with a senior US official describing them as “Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) …. massive, empty ships trying to make it back to Iran,” according to the network’s chief national security correspondent, Jennifer Griffin. Information about damage was not immediately available. The US has roughly 15,000 troops enforcing the blockade, which took effect April 13. US Central Command (CENTCOM) revealed in a post to X Friday that “[t]here are currently more than 70 tankers that US forces are preventing from entering or leaving Iranian ports. “These commercial ships have the capacity to transport over 166 million barrels of Iranian oil worth an estimated $13 billion-plus.” CENTCOM and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Analysts have warned that high tensions over the blockade could accidentally trigger a return to full-scale war. However, the US has avoided formally ending the ongoing cease-fire with Iran despite multiple skirmishes in recent days, including American strikes Thursday evening that President Trump downplayed as “love taps.”

Perspectives

Iranian Official

Iran strongly condemns the latest US aggression in the Strait of Hormuz, where American forces carried out airstrikes on empty tankers seeking to break the illegal blockade imposed on Iranian ports since April 13. This foreign interference, enforced by some 15,000 US troops, has unlawfully stalled more than 70 vessels with capacity for over 166 million barrels of Iranian oil worth $13 billion, violating Iran's sovereign right to export its resources. Tehran reaffirms its resolute resistance to such external aggression while upholding the existing ceasefire.

Israeli

US forces struck Iranian tankers attempting to breach the Hormuz blockade, halting over 70 vessels with capacity for 166 million barrels of oil worth $13 billion. From Israel's perspective, this defensive measure is vital to starve Iran's proxy network—Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis—of funds that fuel existential threats, including rocket barrages and terror infrastructure targeting the Jewish state. Without sustained enforcement by the 15,000 US troops, Tehran's oil revenues would accelerate its drive for nuclear breakout and regional domination.

Neutral

US forces conducted airstrikes on multiple empty tankers in the Strait of Hormuz that were reportedly attempting to breach a blockade of Iranian ports, according to statements attributed to a senior US official via Fox News. CENTCOM reported that over 70 tankers, with capacity for more than 166 million barrels of oil, are currently being prevented from entering or leaving Iranian ports. Damage assessments were unavailable, and analysts have noted risks of escalation amid ongoing tensions.

Western

US forces conducted precision airstrikes on multiple empty VLCC tankers attempting to breach the maritime embargo in the Strait of Hormuz, neutralizing Iranian efforts to evade restrictions on oil exports. The operation supports the ongoing blockade, which has already stalled over 70 vessels with capacity for more than 166 million barrels valued at $13 billion, thereby disrupting Tehran's revenue streams that sustain regional threats. With approximately 15,000 troops deployed, CENTCOM continues calibrated enforcement to uphold maritime security while avoiding broader escalation.

Pro-Peace

US airstrikes on empty oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and the enforcement of a blockade stalling over 70 vessels risk spiraling into full-scale war, with analysts warning of catastrophic civilian casualties and widespread humanitarian fallout across the region. The actions, involving 15,000 US troops and targeting ships with capacity for 166 million barrels of oil, impose severe economic strain on Iranian populations already facing shortages and instability, while undermining fragile cease-fires. Diplomatic negotiations offer a viable path to de-escalate tensions without further loss of innocent life.

Global South

US airstrikes on tankers seeking to breach the Strait of Hormuz blockade reveal Washington’s unilateral chokehold on Iranian sovereignty and global energy flows, prioritizing American interests over the developmental needs of oil-dependent Global South nations. With 15,000 troops enforcing the embargo that has idled over 70 vessels worth $13 billion, the move exemplifies neo-colonial control of maritime chokepoints while multilateral bodies like the UN fail to curb such economic coercion. Tensions mount as these interventions threaten to derail fragile ceasefires and inflict collateral damage on non-aligned economies.

Actors involved

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Sources

  • Caitlin DoornbosBy Caitlin Doornbos

    US forces hit tankers trying to break Iran blockade as military says embargo has stalled 70 ships WASHINGTON — The US military launched a new series of airstrikes Friday, targeting a group of empty tankers in the Strait of Hormuz that were trying to barrel through the blockade of…

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