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Escalation in the Persian Gulf results in civilian casualties and maritime blockade

Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated significantly following a series of missile attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. On Sunday, the Cyprus-flagged container ship M/V GFS Galaxy was struck by an unidentified projectile, resulting in the death of 30-year-old Indian marine engineer Heramb Karmarkar. Cypriot authorities confirmed that the remaining 23 crew members were rescued by the Omani navy, while Iran claimed the ship had ignored warnings regarding unauthorized routes. Furthermore, another Indian seafarer was killed on Tuesday during separate attacks on the MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mobasa. In response to these events, the U.S. military conducted seven hours of airstrikes against Iranian coastal targets and reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps declared that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until American military actions cease, threatening further disruptions to global energy export corridors. Reports also indicate Iranian retaliatory strikes on U.S. facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, alongside direct conflict involving installations near Iranshahr and Bushehr.

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