Qatari tanker hit in Strait of Hormuz as US launches fresh strikes after Iran declares waterway closed

A Qatari tanker has been hit as it travelled through the Strait of Hormuz, suffering significant damage, Qatar's foreign ministry has said. The attack came after Tehran declared the strategic waterway closed, prompting the United States to launch fresh strikes. Iran also hit a commercial ship transiting the strait and targeted locations in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, escalating a confrontation that threatens to choke one of the world's most vital oil shipping lanes. The US strikes followed Iran's declaration that the Strait of Hormuz was closed, a move that defied international maritime law and risked drawing in regional powers. The Qatari tanker was struck while navigating the narrow passage, which handles about a fifth of global oil consumption. The vessel's operator has not commented on the extent of the damage or casualties. The attacks on targets in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar mark a significant widening of the conflict, with Iran striking allies of the US in the Gulf. The US strikes, launched after Tehran's closure declaration, represent a direct military response to what Washington has long warned would be a red line. The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint, with Iran's actions threatening to disrupt global energy supplies and trigger a broader regional conflict.