60 targets, 18m oil barrels: Inside US military’s record strike on Iran
The US military conducted a major operation to escort commercial oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz while simultaneously striking nearly 60 Iranian military targets. This escalation follows increased attacks on shipping and regional US allies in the Gulf.
Why it matters
The operation marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, directly impacting global energy supply chains and maritime security.
The US military escorted 40 commercial vessels carrying around 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, marking a wartime high as Washington and Tehran exchanged a fresh round of strikes, according to two US officials familiar with the operation who spoke to CNN.The high-risk operation came as US forces simultaneously struck nearly 60 Iranian military targets around the strategic waterway, while defending the escorted vessels against waves of drone attacks and neutralising anti-ship cruise missiles.Before the war began just over six months ago, around 20 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz each day.
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