Iran has declared the Straits of Hormuz closed,and fired at a Cypriot-flagged tanker trying to cross. This triggered a US attack on Iran. In response Iran fired missiles and drones at US targets across the Gulf.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it closed the waterway until further notice and warned of a severe response to US "aggression", according to state media.
Within hours of the US strikes, the IRGC said they had hit a US base in Jordan, while the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain were all responding to missiles and drones from Iran.
It comes after incidents earlier this week in which three commercial tankers were attacked, prompting an exchange of strikes with the US.
US Central Command (Centcom) said it launched a third round of strikes this week after the IRGC "blatantly attacked" a Cyprus-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
Centcom said the MV GFS Galaxy was "unable to continue its journey" as a result of significant damage to the engine room. One civilian crew member was missing, it said.
It said US strikes hit 140 Iranian military targets, including missile and drone sites, communication networks, and coastal surveillance locations.
The UK's Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had been informed by military authorities that the crew of the vessel were forced to abandon ship and were in a lifeboat.
source: commonspace.eu with BBC (London) and agencies
