Explosions heard near Kharg Island after US missile targets Iranian tanker: Report

The latest strike comes amid a fresh escalation in the months-long US-Iran conflict, with fighting intensifying around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz in recent days.Explosion heard in Iran's Kharg IslandSounds of explosions were heard near Kharg Island, a key oil hub in Iran, after an oil tanker was hit by the United States on Saturday, news agency Reuters reported, citing Iran’s state-affiliated Nournews. No casualties have been reported so far, while Iranian authorities are yet to share details about the extent of the damage caused by the reported incident.The strike comes amid a fresh escalation in the months-long US-Iran conflict, with fighting intensifying around the strategically vital maritime chokepoint Strait of Hormuz in recent days.The United States launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian targets on August 30, hitting Iranian positions on Larak Island near the Strait of Hormuz. Washington said the strikes targeted Iranian forces involved in laying mines and threatening maritime traffic. Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles at US forces at bases in Jordan.The confrontation escalated further on September 1, when the US carried out another barrage of strikes along Iran's southern coast. The US military said it targeted Iranian air-defence systems, radar installations, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications sites. "US forces struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets including air defence sites, radar systems, maritime assets and facilities, mine-laying capabilities, and communications sites. The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members," the US Central Command wrote on X, while briefing about the strike.Iran responded with attacks on US and allied positions across the Gulf region, including in Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq. The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the central flashpoint in the latest escalation. Iran has maintained restrictions on shipping through the waterway, while the US has sought to challenge Tehran's control over the strategic route. The strait is a crucial global energy corridor, with a significant share of the world's oil supply normally passing through it.The fighting has also increasingly spilt over into maritime traffic. Reuters reported that exchanges of fire and attacks involving vessels near the Strait of Hormuz had disrupted shipping, while the US strikes and Iranian retaliation have heightened fears of further disruption to global oil supplies.- EndsPublished On: Sep 5, 2026 12:51 IST