Massive strikes: A brutal retaliation VIDEO

This was the first time the U.S. military had targeted Iranian tankers in response to Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, rather than to prevent them from violating the maritime blockade.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the move was part of a new “tanker-for-tanker” policy approved by President Donald Trump, aimed at deterring Iran from carrying out further attacks on tankers transiting the strait.

U.S. officials said around 100 targets were struck in Tuesday’s attacks.

The tanker engine rooms were targeted, along with around 100 military sites.

The Iranian state-owned tankers were anchored off the Iranian coast, north of the U.S. maritime blockade line. U.S. drones fired missiles that struck their engine rooms.

Other targets included Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) air-defense positions, radar systems, facilities used to lay sea mines, communications centers, and launchers for anti-ship cruise missiles and kamikaze drones.

U.S. officials said Iran’s attempt to retaliate failed. Iran fired around 25 ballistic missiles, but only half of them reached Jordanian airspace. Ten were intercepted, while three landed on the ground without causing any casualties.

Failed Iranian counterattacks on U.S. bases

Iran also launched around 20 drones at U.S. bases in Bahrain, most of which were shot down, a U.S. official confirmed.

Iranian forces also fired ballistic missiles and drones at U.S. bases in Kuwait, while two drones were sent toward a base in Erbil, in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. They too were intercepted in the air.

The White House and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes were a direct response to recent attempts by the Revolutionary Guard to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as attacks on U.S. bases in the region.

“Mowing the lawn”

The strikes are part of a broader strategy that Trump and his closest advisers have been considering in recent days to prevent Iran from rebuilding the radar and missile systems it needs to attack vessels in the strait. Axios first reported the plan on Monday.

A U.S. official said the aim was to reduce the threat of Iranian attacks on oil tankers, U.S. Navy ships and Air Force aircraft, describing the strategy as “mowing the lawn.” The same official confirmed to Axios on Tuesday that the latest strikes had significantly reduced Iran’s offensive capabilities in the strait and had “bought at least a month” of reduced threats to commercial shipping.

Amid the exchange of fire, U.S. forces continued to monitor vessels transiting the strait. A U.S. official said around 40 ships carrying millions of barrels of oil passed through the strait without incident on Tuesday. U.S. forces intercepted several anti-ship cruise missiles and drones launched by the IRGC toward the convoy, but none of the vessels was hit.

Serious allegations of civilian casualties

The two sides also clashed over reports of civilian casualties. Iranian media reported that a U.S. missile struck a wedding in the city of Kuhestak, allegedly killing at least four people and injuring at least 35 others.

Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins denied the claims.

“We are aware of these reports coming from Iranian state media. The U.S. military never targets civilians, unlike the Iranian Revolutionary Guard,” Hawkins said.

The U.S. side believes it has decisively outmaneuvered its adversary in this round of the conflict.

“The Iranians have not only lost control of the Strait of Hormuz, they have also lost control of the conflict itself. They accomplished absolutely nothing today,” a senior U.S. official said.